Managing Costs with 30% Fewer ER Visits and 15% Fewer Hospital Admissions for Seniors with Dementia
Dementia patients remain among the most expensive in the nation; Rippl is proving virtual, collaborative care can not only keep seniors at home, but also significantly reduce their total cost
By Jamie Sharp, MD — Chief Medical Officer, Rippl
As the first half of our GUIDE Dementia Care Navigation Service program in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Association matures, I’m thrilled to share new data that demonstrates just how powerful comprehensive dementia care can be, not only in reducing emergency department (ED) visits, but now also in significantly lowering hospital admissions. These results underscore Rippl’s mission: to enable more good days for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
What’s New
Previously, we reported a 30% reduction in emergency department visits among Medicare beneficiaries living with dementia who enrolled in Rippl’s dementia care services, comparing the six months before enrollment with the six months after. Rippl | Dementia care on demand
We now have compelling early data showing a 15% reduction in hospital admissions for the same population over the same time period. This translates into fewer crises, less disruption to daily life and, importantly, substantial cost savings and better quality of care.
What’s Making the Difference
Several key components of the Rippl-GUIDE model have proven especially effective:
Timely, expert-led intervention. Our clinical teams are able to proactively address behavioral, medical, and caregiver‐related stressors before they escalate. Catching problems early and stepping in quickly helps prevent small issues from turning into emergencies.
24/7 access & real‐time support. Families and caregivers often face late‐night or weekend crises. Having dementia expertise outside of usual business hours helps diffuse situations that otherwise might lead to ED visits or hospital admissions.
Caregiver partnership. We don’t treat dementia in isolation. We know that when caregivers are empowered with the right tools, education, coaching, and emotional support, they stay healthier and more confident; which means they can provide better care at home and lessen unnecessary ED visits.
Holistic care coordination. Our multidisciplinary teams work to optimize behavioral health, physical health, medication management, and social and environmental risk factors. The result: fewer falls, better management of comorbidities, reduced medication erros, and fewer mood disturbances.
What it Means For Patients, Families, and the Health System
These reductions are more than just numbers—they have real meaning:
For individuals with dementia and their caregivers, fewer hospital stays mean more time in stable environments, less upheaval, and often better outcomes. Hospitalization can be particularly disorienting and risky for people with dementia. Avoiding it means preserving quality of life.
For health systems and payors, reducing avoidable hospital admissions and ED usage can translate to lower total cost of care. Resources freed up can be reinvested in preventive services, telehealth, or other models that support aging in place.
For Rippl and GUIDE, these results validate the model: dementia care that emphasizes access, clinical depth, and caregiver support does move the needle.
Looking Forward
While we’re encouraged by these early results, there’s more to do. Over the next phases, we will:
Continue to monitor outcomes over longer durations to see whether the reductions persist (or improve) beyond the six‐month post‐enrollment period.
Refine risk stratification to identify patients at highest risk of hospital‐level events so we can intervene even earlier.
Expand geographic reach of the GUIDE service so that more people with dementia nationwide can access these benefits, especially those in rural and culturally underserved communities.
Final Thoughts
Dementia is a complex, challenging disease, not just for those who live with it, but for those who care for people living with it. At Rippl, our goal has never been merely to manage dementia, but to reshape what dementia care can be: accessible, proactive, supportive and impactful.
The results speak for themselves: 30% fewer emergency visits and now 15% fewer hospital admissions among GUIDE participants. These outcomes reaffirm that we’re on the right path.
I’m incredibly proud of what our teams, participants, and caregivers have accomplished together, and deeply hopeful for what’s still to come.
Thank you for trusting Rippl with this work.
– Jamie Sharp, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Rippl
The statements contained in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CMS. The authors assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this document.