HomeWell Care Services, one of the nation’s leading nonmedical in-home care franchises, has entered a national partnership with PocketRN to expand dementia care support through the federal GUIDE Model. The collaboration blends HomeWell’s personalized in-home services with PocketRN’s telehealth nursing, offering families around-the-clock guidance and relief supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“Families need both hands-on support and access to innovative resources like GUIDE to help them navigate this journey,” said Crystal Franz, chief executive of HomeWell Franchising. She noted that the partnership positions franchisees to deliver compassionate, Medicare-covered benefits at a time when demand for dementia care is rapidly increasing.
The GUIDE Model, launched by CMS in July 2024, is an eight-year demonstration program designed to advance coordinated dementia care. It requires participants to provide a 24/7 caregiver support line, access to care navigators, respite services, and ongoing education. HomeWell agencies will help families enroll and connect with these benefits through the partnership with PocketRN.
Michelle Cone, HomeWell’s senior vice president of industry engagement, called the collaboration more than a business initiative. “By helping families access GUIDE resources, we’re reducing caregiver burnout, expanding what home care can do, and helping more seniors age with dignity and confidence in their own homes,” she said.
For PocketRN, the partnership underscores the value of blending technology with human connection. “With PocketRN, patients and families get unwavering support from a dedicated, trusted nurse as they navigate the complexities of managing dementia at no cost to them,” said Jenna Morgenstern-Gaines, the company’s chief executive. She highlighted how relationship-based virtual nursing can fill the gaps in care that families often struggle to manage alone.
The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment. Dementia cases are expected to nearly double by 2060, creating unprecedented challenges for families and caregivers. By combining in-home care and virtual nursing within a Medicare framework, HomeWell and PocketRN are positioning their network to meet the urgent needs of a growing population while easing the burden on those who care for them.
For franchising leaders and home care operators, the partnership illustrates how forward-looking alliances can enhance service offerings while addressing systemic challenges in senior care. It is both a business strategy and a response to a social imperative: ensuring that aging in place remains not only possible but dignified.
