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

The Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative – State Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite is a cooperative agreement opportunity administered by the Administration for Community Living under the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to dementia-specific respite services for unpaid family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. The program aims to reduce caregiver burden and delay institutionalization by leveraging the National Aging Services Network, including State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging, to deliver coordinated, community-based respite care services aligned with Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. Eligible caregivers include those supporting individuals with a probable ADRD diagnosis, as well as younger-onset dementia patients under age 60 who would otherwise qualify for Older Americans Act services. Funding will be awarded to State Units on Aging, which will allocate subgrants to Area Agencies on Aging for direct service implementation, with a requirement that each application include a robust independent third-party evaluation to measure impacts on caregiver well-being and service access. Applications must demonstrate a clear approach, measurable impact, and organizational capacity, with evaluation factors weighted toward approach and impact (25 points each), followed by purpose and need (20), resources and capabilities (15), budget (15), evaluation plan (12), outcomes (9), and dissemination/sustainability (4). Successful applicants must submit a detailed work plan, evaluation strategy, resumes of key personnel, commitment letters from partners, proof of nonprofit status, and an indirect cost agreement or elect the 15% de minimis rate. The program requires a six-month planning phase with no more than 15% of funds spent during this time, followed by full implementation over a 36-month period beginning September 30, 2026. All submissions must be completed electronically via Grants.gov by August 3, 2026, using PDF-formatted documents in Times New Roman or Arial font with strict page limits—20 pages for the narrative and 265 words for the project summary. Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier, comply with federal anti-discrimination laws, and report subawards over $30,000 through FSRS. Awards range from $300,000 to $2,000,000 per state based on population of adults 60 and older, with no individual contract line items specified, and no physical delivery or packaging requirements as all services are programmatic and community-based.