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Donate NowAlzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Awards More Than $4 Million in New Round of Grants to Improve Respite Care for People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers
— 41 local respite providers and organizations chosen as recipients in second year of a five-year, $25 million grant program —
CHICAGO, June 25, 2025 — The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) announced today that it is awarding more than $4 million in grants to 41 community-based service providers to drive innovative models of quality dementia-specific respite care. The CDRI is administered through a partnership of the Alzheimer’s Association, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and USAging.The 41 grant recipients are the second-year recipients of a five-year, $25 million grant program to enhance respite services for nearly 12 million dementia caregivers nationwide. Respite care provides caregivers with a temporary rest from caregiving, while the person living with Alzheimer's continues to receive person-centered care in a supportive environment. Respite care can be provided at home — by a friend, other family member, volunteer or paid service — or in a professional or community-based care setting, such as adult day care or a faith-based organization.
“Caring for someone living with dementia is often a 24/7 responsibility,” said Sam Fazio, Ph.D., vice president, Care and Support Programs and Research at the Alzheimer’s Association. “These grants are aimed at creating dementia-specific respite programs that give caregivers a break, while ensuring the person living with dementia gets high-quality care in a safe, caring environment. There is a tremendous need for these programs across the country and we hope these grants can start bridging current gaps.”
The 41 grant recipients span 26 states from Alaska to Florida and include new pilot and start-up programs to bring or expand dementia-specific respite programs in these communities. Several of the service providers selected serve communities at higher risk for Alzheimer's or other dementia — an important objective of the five-year program. See a complete list of this year’s grant recipients (PDF).
In conjunction with the grant, the CDRI will also provide online training and ongoing technical assistance to the grant recipients focusing on improving person-centered care efforts to support program sustainability after the grant period and to ensure that respite services are dementia-capable, especially in communities at higher risk for Alzheimer's or other dementia. The CDRI will also collect data and evaluate the impact of these innovative projects over the five years to inform public policy.
“In our second year, we have incorporated insights and experiences from our first year of programming. We’ve strategically enhanced our education resources to provide more comprehensive support, doubled the number of grants awarded to extend our national reach, and introduced a two- year start-up award option,” said Isabella Marini, associate director, Center for Dementia Respite Innovation. “This allows grant recipients more flexibility and stability as they develop critical respite programs that provide much-needed relief to families navigating the challenging journey of dementia care. Our goal is not just to fund programs, but to create meaningful, sustainable support systems that recognize the incredible dedication of caregivers across the country.”
According to the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (PDF), gaps in the availability of and access to respite can be significant, adding to the stress and burden of unpaid caregivers. Respite care is often costly, and with limited availability in many communities, caregivers are frequently left with responsibility for the bulk of the expenses. The CDRI grant and the sub-grants it will generate will result in developing and piloting cost-efficient, effective, strengths-based, person-centered, innovative models of dementia-specific respite care.
The Alzheimer’s Association created the CDRI in 2024 after receiving a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The ACL grant is the largest ever made to the Association.
Funding disclosure
This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $13,261,685 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $3,285,728 amount with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
About the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI)
The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) funds new respite care innovation projects nationwide. Over the course of five years, the CDRI will award $20 million in competitive grants to local respite care providers to increase the availability and improve the delivery of person-centered dementia care with a focus on innovation, collaboration, impact, accessibility, affordability and sustainability. The CDRI grant and the sub-grants it will generate will result in developing and piloting cost-efficient, effective, strengths-based, person-centered, innovative models of dementia-specific respite care. The CDRI is led by representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and USAging.