Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our services, process, and how we can help your family.
- 01
What exactly does Maine Dementia Partners do?
Maine Dementia Partners provides clinical guidance, care coordination, and family support for people navigating a loved one's dementia diagnosis. Marjorie Hunt, Nurse Practitioner works directly with families to help them understand the stage of disease, navigate care decisions, coordinate with medical providers and facilities, and plan for end of life, so no one has to figure this out alone.
- 02
Who is this service for?
Maine Dementia Partners is for families and caregivers of people living with dementia at any stage of the disease, from diagnosis to end-of-life planning. It is also for long-distance caregivers managing a loved one's care in Maine from out of state, and for families in crisis who need help right now.
- 03
How is this different from a regular doctor or specialist?
Maine Dementia Partners provides the dedicated time, dementia-specific expertise, and cross-setting care coordination that brief medical appointments cannot. Most medical providers do not have the time or specialized training to coordinate care across settings, support families through complex decisions, or navigate the systems that surround dementia care. Marjorie Hunt, NP, has worked inside nursing homes, memory care facilities, assisted living, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, and brings that full picture to every family she works with — she knows which questions to ask to get the answers you need to best care for your loved one.
- 04
What is a dementia care consultant?
A dementia care consultant is a clinician who helps families understand a dementia diagnosis, plan care as the disease progresses, and navigate decisions about safety, behaviors, facilities, and end-of-life care. At Maine Dementia Partners, that consultant is Marjorie Hunt, NP, a board-certified Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner with more than a decade of dementia care experience across every care setting in Maine.
- 05
What do I get with the written assessment?
The written assessment is a clinical document prepared by Marjorie Hunt, NP based on your initial consultation. It includes an assessment of your loved one's current stage of disease, individualized recommendations for care, guidance on next steps, and resources specific to your situation. It is designed to be shared with physicians, facilities, and other members of your loved one's care team.
- 06
What are the monthly memberships?
They are designed to offer different amounts of care and support depending on what each individual with dementia and their family needs. It is understood that everyone's situation is different and may need different supports at times. We do have some flexibility that can be adjusted when we begin working together.
- 07
Do you accept insurance?
Maine Dementia Partners is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance.
- 08
Where are you located and who do you serve?
Maine Dementia Partners serves families across Southern and Central Maine — York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Kennebec counties, including Portland, Scarborough, Biddeford, Saco, Brunswick, Lewiston, Auburn, and Augusta — with in-home visits available as clinically indicated. All services are also available via Zoom and phone, so families anywhere in Maine and long-distance caregivers nationwide can work with us. When able, it is always a goal to have in-person sessions, as these provide a greater depth of understanding of the experience those with dementia are having on a daily basis.
- 09
How do I know if it's time to consider memory care?
Memory care may be appropriate when a person's needs exceed what can be safely managed at home, including significant behavioral symptoms, wandering, inability to be left alone, or caregiver exhaustion. Knowing when and how to make that transition, and how to choose the right facility, is one of the most common reasons families reach out to Maine Dementia Partners.
- 10
How do I know when to consider hospice for someone with dementia?
Consider hospice when someone with advanced dementia can no longer walk or speak more than a few words, is losing weight despite help with eating, has recurrent infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections, or sleeps most of the day. These changes often signal the final stage of the disease, when hospice eligibility is likely. Eligibility is often misunderstood; many families (and even providers) wait far longer than necessary because no one has explained the criteria clearly, and these decisions become harder when someone can't always speak for themselves. It takes years of doing this work to recognize the sometimes subtle ways people show us they are near their time to transition. Marjorie helps families recognize the signs, request a hospice evaluation, and bring the right information to their providers so the decision isn't delayed.
- 11
What if my loved one is having behavioral problems that no one can manage?
Marjorie has extensive experience managing the behaviors families are told are unmanageable — depression, anxiety, combativeness, wandering, and refusal of care — and has worked alongside geriatric psychiatrists to develop effective, humane approaches. These behaviors in advanced dementia are almost always a form of communication from someone who no longer has words. If your loved one is being sedated, restrained, or sent to the ER repeatedly for behavioral reasons, please reach out. There is almost always a better option. Medications are one tool in the toolbox and not the only answer.
- 12
Can you help if my loved one is in a facility and I'm not sure about the care?
Yes. Marjorie Hunt, NP, has worked inside memory care, nursing home, and assisted living settings and knows exactly what good care looks like and what it doesn't. She can help you understand what to look for, what questions to ask, what facilities are required to do, and when to escalate concerns. You have the right to advocate for your loved one, and Maine Dementia Partners can help you do it effectively.
Where do families find authoritative dementia information?
The Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institute on Aging, the Centers for Disease Control, and Medicare.gov are the primary authoritative sources for dementia caregiver information in the United States. Maine’s Office of Aging and Disability Services offers state-level resources. Maine Dementia Partners complements these resources with personalized clinical guidance for individual families.
The organizations below publish caregiver guides, clinical research, and policy information that complement our consultative work.
- Alzheimer’s Association — Caregiver CenterStage-by-stage caregiver guidance, behavioral resources, and a 24/7 helpline.
- National Institute on Aging — Alzheimer’s & DementiaNIH research on dementia types, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical trials.
- Medicare.gov — Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan ServicesWhat Medicare covers for dementia evaluation and care planning.
- CDC — Caregiving ResourcesPublic-health research on caregiver burden and statewide caregiver supports.
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)Professional society of geriatric nurse practitioners. Marjorie is a member.
- AANP Certification Board — AGNP CertificationBoard certification standard for Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioners.
- Maine Office of Aging and Disability ServicesState-level information on Maine’s aging services, MaineCare, and resources.
Ready to take the next step? Review the specialized dementia services, see rates and membership plans, learn about Marjorie, or book your initial consultation.