Enrollment happens in two parts. First, we check whether your loved one is generally eligible. Then, if they are, we complete an assessment and send it to Medicare. Medicare decides whether to approve enrollment. Nothing goes to Medicare until you're ready to move forward.

Complete our eligibility check to see whether your loved one meets the general requirements. It takes a few minutes at trytendercare.com/guide.

See Am I eligible for the GUIDE Program? for the requirements.

If your loved one looks eligible, you'll schedule time with a tendercare Guide, who serves as your GUIDE care navigator. They'll walk through your loved one's needs, answer your questions, and explain what comes next.

Your Guide will complete an assessment with you and gather the documentation Medicare needs. We handle the paperwork so you're not doing it alone.

We submit the assessment to Medicare. Medicare makes the final decision on enrollment. Your Guide will let you know as soon as we hear back.

Typically about two weeks after the eligibility check, depending on how soon you can provide us with all the required information.

You'll have a dedicated tendercare Guide, a personalized care plan, caregiver education and support, a 24/7 support line, help coordinating respite care, and regular check-ins. We're here for the long term, not just to get you enrolled.

One thing worth knowing early: respite funding is up to $2,625 per benefit year, the benefit year resets July 1, and unused funding doesn't carry over. If you enroll partway through a benefit year, talk with your Guide about how to use it before it resets. See Respite care in the GUIDE Program.

That's fine. Nothing is submitted until you say so. When you're ready, let us know and we'll re-check eligibility.

GUIDE requires Original Medicare and a dementia diagnosis. If your loved one is on Medicare Advantage or doesn't qualify, tendercare is still free and we'll still help.

See Does a Medicare Advantage plan qualify for GUIDE?

Complete the eligibility check at trytendercare.com/guide. It takes about 2 minutes.