Dementia Education
What to Do After a Dementia Diagnosis: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families
June 10, 202611 min readHōttoCare Team
Read more MEDICARE GUIDE PROGRAM · CAREGIVERS NATIONWIDEYou help them.
You help them.
We help you.
HōttoCare provides free, expert support for dementia caregivers nationwide. We believe that supporting the caregiver is one of the most effective ways to support a person living with dementia—helping you feel more confident, supported, connected, and more like yourself again.
Medicare-certified GUIDE Program provider. Free for eligible families.
"The HōttoCare team listens well. You're able to adjust your expert guidance to match our needs."
TB · Adult Child Caregiver
Trusted by
The meaning behind our name
Hōtto — a sigh of relief.
In Japanese, hōtto describes the moment your shoulders drop and you finally exhale. That moment — that breath — is what we want every dementia caregiver to feel when they find us. Not another phone tree. Not another waiting list. A real team, real answers, real relief.
Founder Story
Built by a physician who saw what was missing.
HōttoCare was founded by Dr. Yumi Taylor, a physician with deep experience in senior care and healthcare innovation. After watching too many families navigate dementia alone — bouncing between specialists, drowning in paperwork, and burning out caring for the people they love — she built the kind of support she wished every family had.
Today, HōttoCare combines clinical rigor with human warmth. Because dementia care isn't only about the diagnosis. It's about the caregiver, the family, and the life still worth living.
Read our story"I didn't feel heard by the teams in the hospital—the doctors and social workers. It was so helpful for the HōttoCare physician to step in and give us a voice."
When to reach out
For the crisis today — and the road ahead.
HōttoCare supports families through both urgent moments and the long arc of dementia care. There's no wrong time to call.
Short-term & urgent
- A new dementia diagnosis you don't know how to process
- Sudden behavior changes, agitation, or aggression
- Confusion about medications or doctor's instructions
- Caregiver burnout — you can't keep going like this
- Home safety concerns (wandering, falls, kitchen risks)
Long-term planning
- A personalized care plan that adjusts as needs change
- Help navigating Medicare, Medi-Cal, and benefits
- Coordinating doctors, specialists, and community services
- Planning for future care: in-home, day programs, memory care
- Ongoing caregiver education and emotional support
How It Works
A steady hand, from your very first message.
We make the hard parts simpler — so you can focus on being present with your loved one.
01
Tell us your story
A short, human conversation — no forms or pressure. We listen first.
02
Meet your care team
A physician-led team and a dedicated navigator become your guides.
03
Build your care plan
Resources, benefits, and next steps — coordinated in plain language.
04
Ongoing support
Check-ins, respite, peer circles, and a team in your corner as needs evolve.
Medicare-certified GUIDE Program
Why your care may be fully covered.
HōttoCare is a certified provider in Medicare's Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model — a federal program that funds proactive dementia care because it works. Better support at home means fewer hospital stays, fewer ER visits, and a better quality of life for everyone.
$0 cost for eligible families
Comprehensive care covered by Medicare.
24/7 helpline access
Real support when things get hard.
Care coordination
We talk to the doctors, you focus on family.
Caregiver training
Practical skills that reduce daily stress.
Caregiver Respite BenefitSee If You Qualify
Up to $2,500 a year for caregiver respite.
Through the GUIDE Program, eligible caregivers can access up to $2,500 annually for respite care — paid in-home help or adult day programs — so you can sleep, see a doctor, or simply rest. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you shouldn't have to.
In-home respite
A trained caregiver comes to you.
Adult day programs
Safe, engaging community settings.
In their words
Real caregivers, real relief.
"Healthcare is so difficult, and HōttoCare's process is so much easier."
"Thank you for helping me understand what is going on with my mom's dementia and how I can best support her."
"Thank you, HōttoCare, for paying attention to the details, being kind, and being so skilled at supporting people with dementia."
Who We Help
Support shaped to your role in the journey.
Family Caregivers
Adult children and spouses carrying the day-to-day weight of care.
Learn morePeople Living With Dementia
Resources that protect dignity, safety, and independence.
Learn moreMedical Professionals
A trusted referral partner for physicians and discharge teams.
Learn moreCommunity Partners
Nonprofits and senior centers building local dementia support.
Learn moreServices
Everything caregivers ask for — in one place.
Education, resources, and care navigation are available to caregivers nationwide. Specialized GUIDE Program services are available for eligible residents.
Explore all servicesCare Navigation
A dedicated guide through every benefit, provider, and decision.
Caregiver Support
Emotional support, respite planning, and peer connection.
Dementia Education
Plain-language guides on diagnosis, stages, and daily care.
Resource Coordination
Local services found, vetted, and connected on your behalf.
Ongoing Check-ins
Scheduled calls so nothing slips through the cracks.
Care Options Planning
Home care, day programs, and long-term care — explained.
Programs
View all programs →Programs that meet caregivers where they are.
From the blog
Read the blog Stories from the journey.
GUIDE Program
Why Monthly Check-Ins Are a Core Part of Medicare's GUIDE Dementia Program
June 4, 202610 min readHōttoCare Team
Read more 
Caregiver Tips
7 Signs a Dementia Caregiver Needs Support
May 28, 20269 min readHōttoCare Team
Read more FAQ
Questions caregivers actually ask.
This sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?
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There isn't one. Medicare created the GUIDE Program because better dementia support at home reduces costly hospital and emergency visits. When eligible families get coordinated care, everyone wins — including taxpayers. We're paid by Medicare to provide this care, so you're not.
Who is eligible for HōttoCare's GUIDE Program services?
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Families where the person living with dementia is enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A & B), has a dementia diagnosis or significant cognitive decline, lives in the community, and resides in California (other services available nationwide). Educational resources and peer support are available nationwide at no cost.
How quickly can someone help me?
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Most caregivers hear back from a care navigator within one business day, often the same day. If you're in crisis, tell us — we'll prioritize you.
What does the $2,500 respite benefit actually cover?
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Eligible caregivers can use up to $2,500 per year for in-home respite care, adult day programs, or short-term residential stays. Your navigator helps coordinate it and handles the paperwork.
Do you replace my loved one's doctor?
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No. We work alongside your existing doctors and specialists, coordinating care and translating between them — not replacing them.
Supporting caregivers nationwide
Let's find the right support together.
Wherever you are in the U.S., HōttoCare offers education, resources, and a real human guide for your caregiving journey. Specialized GUIDE Program services are available for eligible nationwide residents.