Caregiver training and support programs

Caring for someone with dementia is a job most people never trained for. Caregiver programs teach the skills that make each day go more smoothly. They also connect you with people who understand what you are going through.

This page explains the best-known programs, what the research shows, and how to find one near you. Many are free.

Why training helps

When you understand how dementia changes thinking, behaviors make more sense. You argue less, plan better, and feel more in control.

The strongest results come from programs that mix several parts: learning about dementia, practicing skills, solving real problems at home, and getting emotional support over time.³ Reading a booklet alone helps less.

Programs given only by phone, video or online show smaller effects. A 2021 Cochrane review (a careful summary of many studies) looked at 26 trials with about 2,400 caregivers. Compared with getting information alone, remote training probably eased depression a little. Compared with usual care, it made little or no difference.¹⁵ Remote programs can help, but the effect is modest.

For signs that stress is getting too heavy, see caregiver stress and burnout.

Programs at a glance

Sources for the table: program websites and Medicare.^2,5,6,8,9,13

Savvy Caregiver

Savvy Caregiver was created at the University of Minnesota for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Researchers at Emory University and other groups later adapted it.²

The main version, called Savvy Foundational, meets once a week for six weeks in a small group. Many sites now also offer it by video. There is a three-week version (Savvy Express) and a four-week version for later-stage care (Savvy Advanced).²

The class covers:²

• How dementia affects thinking, including why confusion happens
• How to tell what stage the person is in, and what they can still do
• How to set up daily activities so the person can take part
• Ways to make decisions and take care of yourself
• How to get family help and use community services

What the research shows. In early field tests in Minnesota, Colorado and Alaska, nearly all caregivers said they gained skill, knowledge and confidence. Their burden and their upset over the person's behaviors went down.¹ Promising These early tests were small, so the size of the benefit is less certain than for REACH.

To find a class, check the location list on the Savvy Caregiver website or ask your Area Agency on Aging.²

REACH

REACH stands for Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health. It was developed by researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.^3,4

REACH II was a large trial published in 2006. It included 642 caregivers at five U.S. sites, with more than 200 each of Hispanic, Black and white caregivers. Over six months, caregivers got nine home visits, several phone calls, and five phone support group sessions. They learned about dementia, practiced problem-solving and stress skills, and role-played hard situations.³

Source for the table: NIH news release on REACH II.³ Moderate evidence

What this means in daily life. Steady coaching and support cut the share of caregivers with depression nearly in half. Results were seen in every group, though the size varied.³ Fewer people in the program moved their family member to a nursing home, but that difference could have been due to chance.³

REACH VA. The VA turned REACH into a program for caregivers of Veterans. In its first rollout, 127 caregivers at 24 VA medical centers took part. Most were spouses, and the typical caregiver was 72. Caregivers reported less burden, fewer signs of depression, fewer frustrations, and less time spent on care each day.⁴ Today, REACH VA connects caregivers with a trained coach by phone or video, one-on-one or in groups. There is special support for dementia caregivers.⁵

Medicare's GUIDE program

GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. It is a Medicare test program that began on July 1, 2024 and is planned to run for eight years.⁶ Clinics and health systems that join it agree to support both the person with dementia and the family caregiver.

What GUIDE offers:^6,7

• A care navigator who helps you reach medical and community services
• A 24/7 support line for urgent questions
• Caregiver training and support, such as skills classes, information about the diagnosis, support groups and one-on-one calls, in person or by video
• Respite (short breaks for the caregiver), such as in-home help or adult day programs, up to $2,500 a year for people who qualify. The limit is adjusted for inflation each year.
• Checks for other needs, such as meals and transportation

You do not pay for GUIDE services, including respite.⁷

Who can join. The person must have dementia confirmed by a GUIDE clinician, and have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) as their main insurance. They cannot be in a Medicare Advantage plan or PACE, or in hospice. They must live at home or in an approved residential care community, not long term in a nursing home. As of July 2026, people living in memory care units are not eligible.⁷ People with mild dementia can join.⁷

How to join. Find a GUIDE program near you using the participant list on the CMS website. Then schedule a full assessment, in person or by video. The program sends your information to Medicare and tells you when you are enrolled. You can leave at any time, and your regular Medicare benefits stay the same.⁷ As of October 2026, CMS lists 292 participating programs, so not every area has one yet.⁶

GUIDE is a test program. Medicare is still studying how well it works for families.⁶ For other Medicare benefits, see what Medicare covers in dementia.

Medicare caregiver training from the person's provider

Separate from GUIDE, Medicare Part B can pay for caregiver training. The person's doctor, nurse practitioner, psychologist, or physical, occupational or speech therapist can provide it.⁸

It is covered when the training helps the person reach treatment goals and the person needs your help for treatment to work. Topics can include giving medicines, helping with daily tasks, moving the person safely, communicating well, and emotional support. You can attend alone or in a group, without the person there.⁸

The person with Medicare usually pays 20% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible.⁸ Ask the person's provider whether they offer it.

Alzheimer's Association programs

The Alzheimer's Association offers several free services:

• 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900. Open every day, including holidays. Staff can talk through behaviors, stress, care options, safety, and legal and money planning. Interpreters are available in more than 200 languages. Dial 711 for relay service.⁹
• Care consultations. Through the Helpline, you can talk with a care consultant, a dementia expert with a master's degree. Together you build an action plan for your situation. This is free.⁹
• Online courses. Free classes include Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia, Managing Money, Transitions in Care, and Dementia Conversations (about driving, doctor visits, and legal and money planning). The Empowered Caregiver series has five courses, from caregiving basics to responding to behaviors. Some courses are in Spanish.¹⁰
• Support groups. Trained leaders run groups in person or by video. Some groups are for early-stage or younger-onset dementia, for adult children, or for other special needs.¹¹
• ALZConnected. A free online message board where caregivers and people living with dementia share questions and support at any hour.¹¹

Support groups: what to expect

A support group is a regular meeting of people in a similar situation. You share what is hard, trade tips, and feel less alone. You do not have to talk until you are ready.

Some groups are led by a professional, others by trained peers.¹¹ If the first group does not feel right, try another.

For more on how groups work, see support groups and peer support.

Local programs and Virginia

The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program pays for caregiver help through local Area Agencies on Aging. Services can include information, help getting services, counseling, support groups, caregiver training and respite. Family caregivers of a person of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia can qualify.¹³

To find your local agency, call or text the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, or search at eldercare.acl.gov.¹⁴

In Virginia, the state works with 25 local Area Agencies on Aging. Its Dementia Capable Virginia effort offers a dementia road map and caregiver tip sheets. The state also runs a limited respite voucher program that can pay back up to $400 for caregivers of people with chronic conditions or disabilities (as of October 2026).¹²

Programs for caregivers of Veterans

If the person is a Veteran enrolled in VA health care, the VA Caregiver Support Program offers free help. No application is needed. You can qualify if the Veteran needs help with daily tasks or needs supervision because of a brain condition such as dementia.¹⁶

Services include REACH VA coaching, Building Better Caregivers (a six-week online workshop), peer mentoring, respite, and Annie, a text message service with tips on dementia behaviors and self-care.^5,16

Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.^5,16 See VA benefits for dementia.

How to choose a program

1. Name your biggest problem right now. Is it behaviors, your own stress, paperwork, or not knowing what comes next? Pick a program that fits that need.
2. Call one place first. The Alzheimer's Association Helpline (800-272-3900) or your Area Agency on Aging can tell you what is offered nearby.^9,13
3. Ask the person's doctor whether their clinic is in GUIDE, or whether they offer caregiver training under Medicare.^6,8
4. Check the format. Weekly group, one-on-one coaching, or online at your own pace? Pick what fits your schedule.
5. Plan care for the person while you attend. Ask the program if it can help arrange respite.

Common questions

I have been caregiving for years. Is a class still worth it?

Often, yes. Needs change as dementia moves through stages. Programs like Savvy Advanced focus on later-stage care and end-of-life choices.² A support group can also help with the long haul.

Can I take a class if English is not my first language?

Many programs offer help in other languages. The Alzheimer's Association Helpline has interpreters in more than 200 languages, and some online courses are in Spanish.^9,10 Ask your Area Agency on Aging about classes in your language.

Can I join GUIDE if my mother has a Medicare Advantage plan?

No. As of October 2026, GUIDE is only for people whose main coverage is Original Medicare. People in Medicare Advantage plans, including Special Needs Plans, are not eligible.⁷ Ask the plan what caregiver support it offers.

When to get help right away

For an overview of every caregiving guide, go back to caring for someone with dementia.

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.