Program has grown more than 85% since this time last year, with expanded respite and medical services planned for Q1 2027

LifeCare Memory Partners, a service of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, has reached a current census of 700 patients, marking a significant milestone in the program’s growth and its efforts to support people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and the caregivers who care for them.

This milestone reflects significant growth over the last year. When The Endowment grant was awarded in fall 2025, LifeCare Memory Partners had a census of 378 patients. Today, the program serves 700, an 85% increase. Of those currently served, 327 receive services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, while 373 are served outside the GUIDE program.

“Reaching 700 patients shows us just how great the need for this kind of support is in our community,” said Candy Lee, Program Director of LifeCare Memory Partners. “To grow from 378 patients last fall to 700 today is significant, but those numbers represent something much more important: hundreds of individuals and families who have someone to turn to as they navigate dementia. Our growth reflects our commitment to walking alongside caregivers and helping them access the knowledge, resources and support they need to care for someone living with a dementia diagnosis.”

LifeCare Memory Partners is the only local participating provider of the CMS GUIDE Model in the region. GUIDE provides eligible Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers with coordinated dementia care, including 24/7 support, personalized care plans and respite services.

The program’s growth, however, extends beyond GUIDE. Nearly half of the 700 patients LifeCare Memory Partners currently serves live in New Hanover County. A $5.1 million grant from The Endowment is helping expand access to dementia care and caregiver support for county residents, including those not eligible for GUIDE services. The funding also supports expanded diagnostic services and more flexible respite options for caregivers.

Strong community support, including transformative investment from The Endowment and support from the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation and other community partners, has made this growth possible. LifeCare Memory Partners is grateful for their shared commitment to improving access to dementia care and strengthening support for patients and caregivers.

“We are incredibly grateful to The Endowment for recognizing the tremendous need that exists for families impacted by dementia,” Lee said. “Their significant investment allows us to build on what we have learned through this work and make meaningful support available to more families in New Hanover County, regardless of how their care is funded.”

LifeCare Memory Partners plans to expand its clinical model further in the first quarter of 2027, with programmatic changes focused on respite and medical services. The expansion will strengthen a model designed to support patients and caregivers through the progression of dementia, rather than addressing individual stages in isolation.

“Dementia care should not begin and end with a diagnosis,” said Dr. Azra Shaikh, Medical Director for LifeCare Memory Partners. “We approach dementia care through a palliative care lens, supporting patients from diagnosis through the end of life and recognizing caregivers as essential partners throughout that journey. As we expand our respite and medical services in early 2027, we will be able to strengthen that continuum and provide patients and caregivers with more comprehensive support as their needs change.”