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The Care Guide for Your Loved One with Dementia (CGFLO) is a guided workbook and communication tool created to be completed before your loved one enters a rehabilitation hospital, dementia unit, or long-term care facility.

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It helps families capture who their loved one is beyond a diagnosis—their story, routines, preferences, triggers, comforts, and care strategies—and share that information with care teams from day one.

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This guide is:

• Part journal

• Part care plan

• Part advocacy tool

• Part legacy document

 

It was created by Mary Ann Miller, a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and public health professional, based on lived experience navigating dementia care transitions with her own mother.

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Transitions into long-term care are often sudden, emotional, and overwhelming. Families are asked to make critical decisions while grieving losses, navigating systems, and trusting strangers with someone they love deeply.

Without a structured way to share personal insight:

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• Care teams must learn through trial and error

• Residents experience more distress and confusion

• Families feel guilt, fear, and helplessness

• Important details get lost in paperwork

 

Research and real-world experience show that person-centered care works best when families and staff partner together—especially when a loved one can no longer communicate their needs clearly.

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CGFLO exists to close that gap.

When you complete the Care Guide, you’re giving your loved one—and their care team—an invaluable gift.

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✔ A Personal Biography & Life Story
Capture who they were before dementia, and who they still are.

✔ Daily Routines & Comforts
Sleep patterns, hygiene preferences, food likes/dislikes, rituals that soothe.

✔ Behavioral Insights & Triggers
What causes distress—and what helps calm it.

✔ Medical, Medication & Care Details
Clear, organized information to support safe, informed care.

✔ Transition Planning Support
Step-by-step guidance for memory care moves, admissions, and adjustment.

✔ Checklists & Templates
What to send, how to label items, laundry preferences, contact hierarchy.

✔ A Living Document
Update it as needs change—share it with staff, hospice, or new facilities.

✔ Peace of Mind
Knowing your loved one is seen, understood, and respected—even when you can’t be there.

• Adult children supporting a parent with dementia

• Spouses navigating memory care decisions

• Families preparing for rehab or long-term care admission

• Caregivers who want to advocate with confidence

• Anyone who wants to preserve dignity during difficult transitions

 

It is also deeply valued by care teams in partnership with families, including memory care staff, nurses, social workers, and hospice providers.

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