FARGO — More than 14,000 adults in North Dakota live with Alzheimer’s, cared for by nearly 19,000 unpaid family members or neighbors, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To address the need for at-home care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services unveiled the GUIDE program, which stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. It is the first time Medicare has offered structured dementia support for in-home care.

Through GUIDE, families receive 72 hours of annual respite care, 24/7 virtual nursing support, and personalized care planning. Participants must have Plan A or Plan B Medicaid and live at home. An official dementia diagnosis is not required, though one can be obtained through the program.

“Medicare is kind of that big piece that hasn’t been involved with home

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