income_security_and_social_services · HHS-ACL

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia Specific Respite

Administration for Community Living · HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0036

Closed

Award Range

$300K – $2.0M

Total Program Funding

$54.2M

Expected Awards

Deadline

August 3, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

ACL is putting $54M into expanding respite care specifically for family caregivers of people with dementia. Respite = giving caregivers a break (adult day programs, in-home aides, short-term residential care). This goes through the Aging Services Network — meaning State Units on Aging are the only eligible applicants. Up to $2M per award, 30 awards expected. If you're a local nonprofit, you can't apply directly, but your state's SUA can subcontract with you.

Who Should Apply

State Units on Aging (SUAs) only. This is limited by statute to state government aging agencies. If you're a local organization, partner with your SUA as a subcontractor.

Who Should NOT Apply

Local nonprofits (cannot apply directly), Area Agencies on Aging (must go through the SUA), private caregiving companies, individual caregivers, or any non-state-government entity.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be a State Unit on Aging
•Must focus specifically on dementia-specific respite (not general respite)
•Must deliver through the Aging Services Network (AAAs, aging providers)
•Must expand or create NEW respite capacity (not maintain existing)
•Foreign entities not eligible

💡 GrantQuick Tip

If you're a local dementia care nonprofit, don't skip this — call your State Unit on Aging NOW and ask to be included as a subcontractor. SUAs need community partners to actually deliver the respite services. With $54M and 30 awards, most states that apply will get funded. The key differentiator is having a clear plan for dementia-SPECIFIC respite (trained staff who understand behavioral symptoms, wandering risks, etc.) vs. generic babysitting.

Competitiveness: Low-moderate — 30 awards for ~50 state agencies. Most states that submit a solid application will be funded.

What This Grant Funds

Cooperative agreements under the Alzheimer"s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI)- State Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to expand and strengthen additional supports for family caregivers by providing dementia-specific respite services delivered through the National Aging Services Network (State Units on Aging (SUA), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), and aging network service providers). The program is designed to provide respite relief in support of unpaid family caregivers of people with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer"s disease or related dementia (ADRD) who need access or additional access to respite care or related services. The primary goal is to reduce caregiver burden and delay institutionalization of people with a probable diagnosis of ADRD through the availability and delivery of dementia-specific respite services. Through this demonstration grant opportunity, states will partner with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to coordinate and provide respite services for caregivers with a focus on dementia-specific respite services comparable to existing services provided under the Older Americans Act (OAA). Grant funds will be awarded to SUAs, which will distribute the funds to AAAs to carry out program implementation.Dementia-specific respite services will be made available to eligible unpaid family caregivers of people with a probable diagnosis of ADRD, as well as those under age 60 with younger-onset dementia of any age who would otherwise meet eligibility requirements under OAA funded programs. Participating SUAs will establish and define the terms and conditions governing the implementation of their dementia-specific respite program. Successful applications will include an independent third-party evaluation to assess and document the program"s impact on participating, community-residing unpaid family caregivers and individuals living with dementia.