MiM Spark takeaway
The GUIDE letter is not a miracle. It’s not a scam either. It’s a new attempt at something the system has failed at for years: helping people with dementia and the people who love them stay safely at home, with actual support.
But here’s the part nobody tells you: the “front door” is the service.
If the first five minutes feel cold, salesy, or slow… that’s not a glitch. That’s the product.
Step One Was Not a Phone Call
Before calling anyone, confirm what type of Medicare coverage you have, because GUIDE eligibility depends on the lane you’re in.
Look at your insurance card and verify whether you’re in:
Original Medicare (Parts A and B), often paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) like Plan F or Plan G
or
Medicare Advantage (a private plan that replaces Original Medicare for how services are delivered)
This is not nitpicking. It’s avoiding the “wrong department” merry-go-round.
The letter arrives and you do what any reasonable person does
You read it. You exhale. You wonder whether “a new Medicare program” is help, hype, or a polite way of saying “good luck.”
Then you look at the provider list. In our case, it came down to two names.
So I did what Supporters do. I tested the doors.
Call #1: Ceresti
I called Ceresti first.
I sat on hold for ten minutes before Katherine picked up. No last name. No corporate vibe. Just a real human voice that sounded like she understood that people calling about dementia are not calling for the fun of it.
She was exceptionally nice and gave me a clear next step:
“Watch the videos on our GUIDE site, then come back.”
Was it homework? Yes.
Did it still feel personal? Also yes.
And even if Ceresti isn’t the provider you end up choosing, their GUIDE site is genuinely helpful, especially the videos. It’s one of the clearest plain-English walkthroughs I’ve seen of what GUIDE is supposed to be.
(You already know the link because I’m not shy about repeating useful things.)
MiM Spark note: This matters. In dementia support, clarity is a form of care.
Call #2: Tembo
Then I tried Tembo.
Their “screening call” link took me straight to a scheduling calendar. No conversation. No triage. Just a polished funnel that says “Match for Free!” like I’m shopping for a couch, not trying to build a support plan for a human being.
And the calendar? No availability until January 6th.
That’s a week away.
In the world of dementia, a week is not a scheduling detail. It’s an eternity.
Then I found their contact page.
For non-urgent, non-medical inquiries: submit a form.
Response time: within 3 business days.
Three business days.
If you’re a Supporter reading this, you already know why that’s unacceptable. Dementia doesn’t operate on banker’s hours.
So for us, Tembo is out. Not because the concept is wrong, but because the front door told the truth.
The Five Questions to Ask Any GUIDE Provider
If you got this letter too, here’s the practical part you can copy and paste into your notes before you call:
1. How fast do we get a real person after intake?
Same day, next day, or “we’ll see you next Tuesday.”
2. Who is the care navigator and what are their credentials?
And what’s their caseload, if they’ll tell you.
3. How do you coordinate with our existing doctors?
Do you talk to the neurologist, PCP, social worker? Or do you hand me a list and wish me luck.
4. What support is actually available for the Supporter?
Training, coaching, respite, crisis planning, local resources. Real things. Not a PDF.
5. What happens if we enroll and it’s not a fit?
How do we exit, and do we lose anything by trying.
Supporter, not caretaker
One more thing, because language matters.
I don’t consider myself a caretaker. Not yet, and hopefully not for a long time. I’m Tim’s Supporter and he’s a Traveler.
That’s not cute branding. It’s a boundary and a truth. A diagnosis doesn’t erase agency. Our job is to keep the person in the room, not turn them into a project.
GUIDE may be a step toward that. We’ll see.
If you got this letter too
Don’t toss it. Don’t panic. Don’t assume it’s useless.
Check your coverage type. Call the providers. Ask the questions. Trust the front door.
And if you want to compare notes, comment with:
your state
which provider you contacted
whether the first five minutes felt human or salesy
Because the first five minutes are often the truth.
I told Katherine I hope we don’t need any of this. She said she hopes the same. Then she said the line that matters: register now, not later.
Because later is when you’re tired, stressed, and trying to make decisions with one shoe on.
So yes. I’m with her.
MiM Connect
If you want the Supporter-first tools we’re building (scripts, routines, checklists, “what to say when,” and the dignity-forward version of daily structure), start here: https://livewithmim.org/register
