Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOA ADPI 0036
The Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL). It will be awarded as cooperative agreements, meaning funded states should expect an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the federal program office rather than a purely hands-off grant. The core purpose is to expand and strengthen supports for unpaid family caregivers by making dementia-specific respite services more available through the National Aging Services Network, especially State Units on Aging (SUAs), Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and local aging-network providers.
At the center of the program is respite relief for unpaid caregivers of people with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD). The intent is practical: give caregivers real, usable breaks from caregiving responsibilities through services designed specifically for dementia care needs. The larger outcomes the program is trying to drive are reducing caregiver burden and delaying or preventing unnecessary institutionalization of people living with dementia by helping families sustain caregiving at home for longer.
This is structured as a state-led demonstration effort. Funds are awarded to SUAs, and SUAs are expected to partner with AAAs to coordinate and deliver the respite services. In practice, the state agency functions as the lead organizer and rule-setter, while AAAs and their provider networks handle much of the on-the-ground implementation. The respite services are expected to be comparable to those provided under the Older Americans Act (OAA), while being explicitly dementia-specific in design, delivery, and appropriateness for ADRD caregiving situations.
Eligible participants include unpaid family caregivers of community-residing individuals with a probable ADRD diagnosis who need access, or additional access, to respite care or related supports. The opportunity also explicitly includes people under age 60 who have younger-onset dementia, as long as they would otherwise meet eligibility requirements under OAA-funded programs. This is an important inclusion because many aging-services systems are oriented toward older adults, and younger-onset dementia can leave families with fewer typical entry points into respite supports.
A key operational requirement is that participating SUAs must establish and define the terms and conditions for how the state’s dementia-specific respite program will be implemented. In other words, states are expected to set the program rules, eligibility details (within the NOFO and OAA context), service definitions, referral pathways, and oversight approach for how AAAs and providers will deliver respite. Another major requirement is evaluation: successful applications are expected to include an independent third-party evaluation to assess and document the program’s impact on participating unpaid caregivers and individuals living with dementia in the community. The evaluation component signals that ACL is looking not only to fund services, but also to build evidence and practical lessons about what works across states and local aging networks.
Competition is limited to State Units on Aging (state governments). Foreign entities are not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement. The opportunity number is HHS 2026 ACL AOA ADPI 0036, with an original application closing date of 2026-08-03. The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award, and ACL expects to make about 30 awards. The assistance listing/CFDA number associated with this program is 93.470, and the funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOA ADPI 0036
- The Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia Specific Respite" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.470.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite?
It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL). The program focuses on expanding and strengthening dementia-specific respite supports for unpaid family caregivers through the National Aging Services Network.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to make dementia-specific respite services more available for unpaid caregivers, with an emphasis on delivering services through State Units on Aging (SUAs), Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and local aging-network providers. The practical goal is to provide caregivers with real, usable breaks from caregiving responsibilities that reflect the realities of dementia care.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The opportunity is intended to reduce caregiver burden and help delay or prevent unnecessary institutionalization of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD) by helping families sustain caregiving at home longer.
What type of award is this?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. This means funded states should expect an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the federal program office rather than a hands-off grant structure.
Who is eligible to apply?
Competition is limited to State Units on Aging (SUAs), which are state government entities. Other organizations do not apply directly under this announcement.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply or receive awards?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement.
Who is the intended population to be served by the respite services?
The program is centered on unpaid family caregivers of community-residing individuals who have a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD), and who need access, or additional access, to dementia-specific respite care or related supports.
Does the program include people with younger-onset dementia (under age 60)?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes people under age 60 who have younger-onset dementia, as long as they would otherwise meet eligibility requirements under Older Americans Act (OAA)-funded programs.
What does “community-residing” mean in this context?
Based on the opportunity description, the respite focus is on individuals living with dementia in the community (rather than an institutional setting), with the intent of supporting continued caregiving at home.
How will services be organized at the state and local level?
This is a state-led demonstration effort. Funds are awarded to SUAs, and SUAs are expected to partner with AAAs to coordinate and deliver dementia-specific respite services. The state typically serves as the lead organizer and oversight body, while AAAs and provider networks handle much of the on-the-ground delivery.
What role do State Units on Aging (SUAs) play in implementation?
Participating SUAs must establish and define the terms and conditions for how the state’s dementia-specific respite program will be implemented. This includes setting program rules, eligibility details (within the NOFO and OAA context), service definitions, referral pathways, and the oversight approach for how AAAs and providers will deliver respite services.
What role do Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) play?
AAAs are expected to partner with the SUA and coordinate and deliver respite services through local aging-network providers. Much of the direct service implementation is expected to occur through AAAs and their provider networks.
What kinds of respite services are expected under this program?
The respite services are expected to be comparable to services provided under the Older Americans Act (OAA), but explicitly dementia-specific in design, delivery, and appropriateness for ADRD caregiving situations.
What does “dementia-specific” mean for respite under this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes that respite must be designed and delivered in ways that are appropriate for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias caregiving needs, rather than generic respite that may not reflect dementia-related safety, supervision, communication, and behavioral support considerations.
Is this opportunity focused on services only, or also on evidence and learning?
It is designed to do both. In addition to funding services, ACL expects funded projects to build evidence and practical lessons about what works across states and local aging networks.
Is an evaluation required?
Yes. Successful applications are expected to include an independent third-party evaluation to assess and document the program’s impact on participating unpaid caregivers and individuals living with dementia in the community.
What is meant by “independent third-party evaluation” in this opportunity?
The opportunity indicates that evaluation should be conducted by an independent entity (separate from the program’s day-to-day operators) to assess and document impacts on caregivers and people living with dementia who are served.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award.
How many awards does ACL expect to make?
ACL expects to make about 30 awards.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is HHS 2026 ACL AOA ADPI 0036.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-08-03.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The associated Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 93.470.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Is this program tied to the National Aging Services Network?
Yes. The opportunity specifically highlights expanding dementia-specific respite availability through the National Aging Services Network, especially SUAs, AAAs, and local aging-network providers.
How does the Older Americans Act (OAA) relate to this opportunity?
The respite services are expected to be comparable to those provided under the OAA, while being explicitly dementia-specific. Eligibility and program design are also described as being within the NOFO and OAA context.
Is this described as a demonstration effort?
Yes. The opportunity is structured as a state-led demonstration effort, with states serving as the lead entity and partnering with AAAs for delivery.
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