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Lead with Curiosity.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Skills bring confidence and calm.
Are you and your loved one participating in GUIDE?
Are you and your loved one participating in GUIDE?
You deserve a GUIDE provider that treats dementia care with the seriousness, skill, and humanity it requires. That starts with insisting they employ or contract a Positive Approach to Care (PAC)–licensed or certified educator as part of their GUIDE team. PAC is peer‑reviewed, evidence‑based, and rooted in real, hands‑on experience with people living with dementia (PLwD). The research is clear, and you can explore it yourself to see the depth and credibility behind this approach.
You will be surprised how many dementia educators and training/support group facilitators have never worked directly with PLwD. So, do not settle for these pre‑recorded videos, someone reading off a PowerPoint, or “training” delivered by individuals who have never directly worked with PLwD. You deserve better—and so does the person you’re supporting. A PAC‑trained professional brings proven expertise, practical skills, and a level of understanding that elevates the entire GUIDE team. Make it clear to your provider: you expect a PAC‑licensed or certified educator you can count on. Nothing less.
Families who spend thousands of dollars each month on memory care are often shocked to learn that staff in many facilities receive the same minimal training required in Medicaid‑funded settings. Out of 657 assisted living and memory care communities in Texas, only 58 earn strong performance ratings, and the state ranks last in the nation for nursing home quality. Despite the growing complexity of dementia care, much of the required education—offered even by respected nonprofits and state health departments—still relies on unmonitored prerecorded videos, limited or no hands‑on practice, and quizzes that allow unlimited attempts. This matters because when something goes wrong, people living with dementia cannot advocate for themselves. An informed, engaged family voice is not optional—it is essential.
Positive Approach to Care (PAC) gives families the knowledge and skills to recognize when professionals or facilities may be less prepared than they claim, and how unintentional harm can occur when staff lack proper training. Understanding how to support a changing brain is not just helpful; it is one of the most powerful ways families can protect their loved one’s dignity and improve quality of life for everyone involved. If we want safer, more compassionate care, families must educate themselves and speak up. Contact your local representatives, community leaders, and organizations with influence, and urge them to support state‑mandated, in‑person, evidence‑based dementia training—such as PAC.
Another growing challenge is that, as dementia diagnoses rise and the Baby Boomer population ages, more families are being forced to keep loved ones at home—often without the training, support, or resources they need. For those who lack long‑term care insurance, do not qualify for Medicaid, or cannot afford $9,000 per month for private memory care, the burden can feel overwhelming. When families understand what is happening in the brain, they can respond with greater confidence, compassion, and calm. The right tools reduce stress, prevent unnecessary conflict, and make daily care safer and more manageable. Most importantly, they help families find moments of connection and joy. Medicare GUIDE may be able to cover this essential training at no cost.
Your voice matters, because people living with dementia cannot use theirs.
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