Funds will support providing respite care for dementia caregivers in Lubbock and Amarillo.

Texas Tech University was one of 41 organizations to receive funding from among $4 million in grants awarded by the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI).

The grants were distributed to community-based service providers to promote innovative thinking in models for providing dementia-specific respite care. Texas Tech received $125,000 to give respite to those caring for someone with dementia in Lubbock and Amarillo. The funds are expected to provide this type of care at least until August 2026.

Respite care is the concept of ensuring caregivers get temporary rest from providing care while the person living with Alzheimer’s continues to receive person-centered care in a supportive environment. 

“We are excited to offer much-needed respite care to families impacted by dementia in Lubbock and Amarillo,” said Jonathan Singer, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech and in the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. “Family caregivers in these communities often provide around-the-clock support, and their dedication is nothing short of extraordinary.”

As a result of the generous support of the Alzheimer’s Association, Texas Tech’s GRILL (Grief and Response to Illness in Late Life) Lab at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Garrison Institute on Aging, where Singer serves as program director, will be able to provide these caregivers a well-deserved break – while their loved ones with dementia engage in meaningful and enjoyable recreational activities designed just for them.

The CDRI is administered through a partnership of the Alzheimer’s Association, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and USAging. Texas Tech was one of only two recipients in Texas to receive funding through the initiative.

According to a news release, the 41 organizations are second-year recipients of a five-year, $25 million grant program to enhance respite services for approximately 12 million dementia caregivers across the country. This year’s recipients span 26 states and include pilot and start-up projects looking to bring or expand respite programs to their communities.

“Caring for someone living with dementia is often a 24/7 responsibility,” said Sam Fazio, vice president of care and support programs and research at the Alzheimer’s Association. “There is a tremendous need for these programs across the country, and we hope these grants can start bridging current gaps.”

A 2022 survey indicated a dearth in availability of and access to respite care can be significant, compounding stress for unpaid caregivers. The grants will help create cost-efficient respite care options.

The CDRI was created in 2024 by the Alzheimer’s Association following 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.