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Donate NowAlzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Awards Nearly $4 Million to Expand Access to Respite Care for People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers
— 34 community-based providers selected in third year of landmark $25 million grant initiative —
CHICAGO, June 24, 2026 — The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) announced today nearly $4 million in new grant funding to support 34 community-based organizations delivering innovative, high-quality respite care for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.The awards mark the third year of a five-year, $25 million initiative aimed at strengthening respite care services for nearly 13 million family caregivers across the United States. The CDRI is administered through a partnership among the Alzheimer’s Association, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and USAging. The 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 grant is the largest ever made to the Association.
Respite care provides caregivers with critical temporary relief while ensuring individuals living with Alzheimer's or dementia continue to receive safe, person-centered care in supportive environments. Respite care can be provided at home — by family members, friends or paid professionals — or through community-based settings, such as community centers or faith-based organizations.
“Caring for someone living with dementia is often a full-time responsibility, leaving many caregivers without opportunities to rest or recharge,” said Lauren Stratton, director, psychosocial research and program evaluation at the Alzheimer’s Association. “Through the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation, we are expanding access to high-quality respite programs nationwide. These grants help communities develop innovative, person-centered solutions that support caregivers while ensuring individuals living with dementia receive compassionate, specialized care.”
This year’s 34 grant recipients span 16 states from California to Maine, and include new pilot programs along with continued funding for existing grantees to enhance and expand their programs even further. Several grantees serve communities disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's or other dementia — a key goal of the five-year initiative. See a complete list of this year’s grant recipients (PDF).
In addition to financial support, the CDRI offers online training and ongoing technical assistance to help providers deliver more person-centered care and sustain their programs beyond the grant period. These resources ensure that respite services are dementia-capable and tailored to the needs of communities, especially those at higher risk. The initiative also collects data from participating providers over five years to evaluate outcomes and inform future public policy.
“As the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation enters its third year, we are building on valuable lessons to strengthen and expand dementia respite services nationwide,” said Isabella Marini, associate director, Center for Dementia Respite Innovation. “This year’s investments reflect our commitment to supporting innovative, sustainable, community-driven programs that meet caregivers where they are. By prioritizing sustainability and scalability, we are helping to create lasting respite solutions that families can rely on.”
Demonstrating Impact
To date, CDRI-funded programs have:
- Served over 2,200 people living with dementia.
- Supported over 2,700 caregivers.
- Delivered more than 530,000 hours of respite care.
Through this initiative, CDRI is supporting the development and testing of cost-effective, strengths-based, person-centered models to address these gaps. The program emphasizes innovation, accessibility and long-term viability to ensure families have reliable support options.
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 $18,228,216 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $4,941,389 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 in/crease 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, which represents and supports the national network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocates for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs.