The Characteristics of Sites Delivering the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services voluntary Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model supports comprehensive dementia care. We describe how participant health care organizations present their GUIDE services from a consumer perspective.

We analyzed CMS GUIDE participant lists, consolidating participants into 235 unique organizations with a website. Using a custom data extraction form each organization's characteristics were independently extracted. We used Cohen's h to compare established-track versus new-track organizations and those operating in multiple states versus a single state.

Large and medium differences were found between established-track (n = 81) and new-track organizations (n = 154) related to public-facing GUIDE materials, GUIDE contact information listed, not-for-profit status, and respite services described. Most multistate (n = 71) and single state (n = 164) differences were small except for primarily virtual care clinic.

While GUIDE variation offers choice, the limited public sharing of service information restricts consumers' ability to make informed decisions about this care model.