Dementia-Specific Respite Care: Innovative Programs and Sustainable Pathways

The Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) is funded by the Administration for Community Living, and administered by the Alzheimer’s Association, to pilot innovative dementia-specific respite programs. The programs are designed to expand access to high-quality, person-centered respite care for people living with dementia and their caregivers. CDRI awards grants to support home and community-based service programs that advance innovation, accessibility, and sustainability in respite services. This webinar will provide a brief overview of CDRI’s funding approach, program structure, and impact to date, followed by presentations from two funded providers highlighting their respite models.

The Care Collective in Boise, Idaho, will discuss their CDRI funded program which is leveraging a volunteer driven, community-based approach to delivering group respite in a faith-based setting. Participants benefit from live music, movement and creative activities, as well as intergenerational visits. The University of Central Arkansas will discuss their Interprofessional Therapeutic Activity Program (I-TAP), which delivers programming through structured activity sessions focused on physical activity, cognitive stimulation, and social engagement. By integrating physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and exercise science students into these dementia specific sessions, I-TAP pairs person centered respite for families with essential, supervised clinical training for students.