PocketRN, SYNERGY HomeCare Partner for Dementia Care

TEMPE, Arizona—PocketRN, a provider of virtual nursing care, and SYNERGY HomeCare, a homecare company, announced they will form a national partnership to test the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) alternative payment model designed to support people living with dementia and their family caregivers. 

“This is an exciting collaboration that amplifies and elevates the services both PocketRN and SYNERGY HomeCare bring to their clients,” said Rich Paul, chief operating officer for SYNERGY HomeCare. “As the fastest growing homecare franchise in a relatively young industry, we have a tremendous opportunity to positively impact a large number of people affected by dementia. SYNERGY HomeCare has a long history of aligning with a wide array of national partners, health plans and third-party payers to create a highly diversified referral base and extend services to a greater pool of clients. Our partnership with PocketRN is another excellent example of our ability to survey the evolving homecare landscape and find meaningful ways to deliver even more value through strategic partnerships.”

Under CMS’s Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, PocketRN will be one of almost 400 participants building Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) across the country, working to increase care coordination and improve access to services and supports, including respite care, for people living with dementia and their family caregivers. This partnership allows for integration of medical and non-medical care in the home.

According to the CMS, many people with dementia do not consistently receive high-quality, coordinated care, despite its prevalence. As a result, they experience poor outcomes, including high rates of hospitalization, emergency department visits and post-acute care utilization. They also experience high rates of depression, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and poor management of other co-occurring conditions.

The GUIDE Model, which launched July 2024, is testing a new payment approach for supportive services for people living with dementia, including comprehensive, person-centered assessments and care plans; care coordination; 24/7 access to an interdisciplinary care team member or help line; and certain respite services to support family caregivers. People living with dementia and their family caregivers will have the assistance and support of a care navigator to help them access clinical and non-clinical services such as meals and transportation through community-based organizations.  

SYNERGY HomeCare’s partnership with PocketRN is rooted in the fact that a significant portion of its client base has a dementia diagnosis. The company’s locations nationwide provide in-home memory care support for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, as well as respite care for their family caregivers.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with SYNERGY HomeCare to bring our revolutionary Nurse for Life model to the millions of dementia patients and families who need it most,” said PocketRN CEO Jenna Morgenstern-Gaines. “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. Nurses are a critical part of the care continuum across all health fields and even more so as they provide a cohesive ‘glue’ for patients and their families throughout their dementia journey.”

PocketRN’s partnership with SYNERGY HomeCare to deliver the GUIDE Model will help people living with dementia and their family caregivers have access to education and support, such as training programs on best practices for caring for a loved one living with dementia. The GUIDE Model also provides respite services for certain people, enabling family caregivers to take temporary breaks from their caregiving responsibilities. 

Under this partnership, PocketRN will refer families in need of respite care to local SYNERGY HomeCare agencies. Respite is being tested under the GUIDE Model to assess its effect on helping caregivers continue to care for their loved ones at home, preventing or delaying the need for facility care. Similarly, SYNERGY HomeCare can refer their clients to PocketRN in the event they would benefit from 24/7 access to virtual clinical support.

For more information on CMS’ GUIDE Model, visit: cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide.