Guided Care is a new solution to the growing challenge of caring for older adults with chronic conditions and complex health needs. A Guided Care Nurse, based in a primary care office, works with patients and their families to improve their quality of life and make more efficient use of health services. The nurse assesses patient needs, monitors conditions, educates and empowers the patient, and works with community agencies to ensure that the patient’s healthcare goals are met. The Lipitz Center recently conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial of Guided Care at eight community-based primary care practices in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area that included over 900 patients, 300 caregivers, and 48 primary care physicians. Preliminary data indicate that Guided Care improves the quality of patients’ care, reduces family caregiver strain, improves physicians’ satisfaction with chronic care, and may reduce the use and cost of expensive services, especially in well-managed systems. Click here for a summary of preliminary data from the trial.