ARCC Grants for Respite, Education, or Innovative Programs is a funding opportunity from the Alzheimer's Resource Coordination Center (ARCC) at the South Carolina Department on Aging that supports projects benefiting individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Grants fund respite care services, dementia education initiatives, and innovative programs that improve quality of life for persons with dementia and their caregivers. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, healthcare providers, faith-based groups, and aging service agencies in South Carolina. Up to $150,000 is available annually, with an application deadline of April 10, 2026.

ARCC | South Carolina Department on Aging Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center (ARCC) ARCC Grant Applications Now Open! The Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center is pleased to announce that ARCC Grant Applications are now open! ARCC Grants are designed to benefit those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia through the promotion of respite care, education, and innovation.

We are eager to support projects that demonstrate a clear commitment to these areas. Applications are due by April 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM . Applicants can find important dates and detailed information about the grant and application process in the provided links for the Grant Timeline , Grant Packet , and Scope of Services .

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dana Daniel, Dementia Coordinator . The Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center (ARCC), located within the South Carolina Department on Aging, was established by state legislation in 1994. The Center’s goal is to serve as a statewide focal point for coordination, service development, information, and education to assist persons with ADRD and their families.

The ARCC is guided by a Governor-appointed advisory council composed of representatives from state agencies, organizations, and caregivers who have a special interest in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

The advisory council aids the ARCC in meeting its goals of: Initiating the development of systems which coordinate the delivery of programs and services Facilitating the coordination and integration of research, program development, planning, and quality assurance Identifying potential users of services and gaps in the service delivery system and expanding methods and resources to enhance statewide services Serving as a resource for education, research, and training and providing information and referral services Providing technical assistance for the development of support groups and other local initiatives to serve individuals, families, and caregivers Recommending public policy concerning Alzheimer's disease and related disorders to state policymakers Facilitating the coordination and integration of educational initiatives for healthcare providers on the importance and value of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment, validated cognitive assessment tools, and increasing understanding and awareness of early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia and how to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

The ARCC is staffed by the Dementia Coordinator whose role is to monitor the state’s service delivery system and work closely with the ARCC Advisory Council to develop a coordinated state-wide delivery system that caters to the needs of persons with ADRD, their families, caregivers, and communities.

Additionally, the Dementia Coordinator is responsible for submitting an annual report to the Chairman of the Medical Affairs Committee of the Senate and the Chairman of the Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives on the activities of the ARCC.

The South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry , managed by USC’s Office for the Study of Aging, reports that 125,538 individuals in South Carolina have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. This figure does not include those living with dementia who have not received a diagnosis. Among those diagnosed with dementia, 70% are known to reside in the community.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report , roughly 224,000 family caregivers provided 369 million hours of unpaid care and support to individuals with dementia in our state in 2024. The burden of caregiving, both physically and emotionally, is substantial, particularly when assisting a loved one living with dementia.

In South Carolina, 31% of dementia caregivers experience depression, 60. 6% struggle with chronic health conditions, and 15. 2% report their physical health as poor ( Alzheimer’s Association, 2025 ).

Experience has shown that caregiver support can promote a higher quality of life for individuals with ADRD and their families. By alleviating some of the burdens, even temporarily, supportive services, such as adult day services, group respite care, in-home respite, caregiver education, and counseling, can enable families to continue caring for the person with ADRD at home.

A major obstacle to adequate care and services for individuals living with dementia in South Carolina and their families has been the lack of resources needed to support these services throughout the dementia journey.

One of the ways the South Carolina Legislature has helped address this need is by providing annual funding to the ARCC to award competitive grants to community-based organizations that provide dementia-specific programs throughout the state.

Each year, the ARCC receives $150,000 to award dementia-specific grants to community organizations to support respite, education, and innovative programs for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, their families, caregivers, and communities. Grants are awarded on a 2-year cycle through a competitive selection process.

Since its establishment in 1995, the ARCC Grants Program has awarded over 388 grants to community organizations that provide services to individuals, families, and communities affected by dementia. These services include dementia-specific respite, adult day programs, and educational programs that support the medical community, colleges and universities, first responders, and the general public.

The ARCC grants have enabled more than 7,717 individuals living with ADRD to access respite care services and provided education services to over 78,117 participants. Moreover, since 2021, ARCC grants have supported the implementation of 17 innovative programs.

These programs include virtual training for family caregivers, in-home activities that promote sustainability and independence in daily living for those with dementia, and technology that helps locate and safely return those with dementia who may have wandered from home. During the FY25 grant period (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), a total of 10 ARCC grants were awarded, providing services across 14 counties.

2024-2025 grant recipients reported: Providing 20,592 hours of respite services to 209 unduplicated respite participants Holding 390 support group meetings Providing 5,529 hours of education on Alzheimer’s and related dementia to 5,082 individuals Serving 535 clients with innovative programming Seven grants have been awarded for the FY26 grant period running from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

These grantees will provide services across 11 counties . ARCC Advisory Council Meetings The Alzheimer's Resource Coordination Center (ARCC) Advisory Council meetings serve as a platform for discussing and advising on initiatives and strategies related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in South Carolina.

The Council meets quarterly to provide input on programs, policies, and services, ensuring they effectively support individuals living with ADRD, their families, caregivers, and communities. The meetings focus on identifying service gaps, promoting awareness, and improving the coordination of resources to better serve those impacted by ADRD.

The ARCC Advisory Council is scheduled to meet virtually on the following dates: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Friday, December 5, 2025, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm These meetings are open to the public. Please contact Dana Daniel, ARCC Dementia Coordinator, at ddaniel@aging. sc.

gov for more information on how to attend. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan The plan focuses on five principal goals, each associated with a list of actionable items: Improve knowledge, understanding, and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia by educating and empowering South Carolinians, including every person engaged in the continuum of care.

Support policy and advocacy efforts that improve the health and well-being of all people in South Carolina. Improve the quality of dementia care and ensure all people in South Carolina are able to access the resources, healthcare, and support they need to reduce the risk and all other issues related to ADRD.

Improve, expand, and develop multidimensional support and health promotion programs for professional and family caregivers and care partners. Improve access to, coordination, and use of ADRD data and resources statewide. In May 2023, Governor Henry McMaster signed South Carolina Senate Bill 569 into law.

This law establishes the statewide plan and mandates the ARCC Advisory Council to maintain and update it every five years. Additionally, it requires the ARCC to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly by September 30 each year on the progress toward fulfilling the state plan. To learn more about the ARCC contact the ARCC Dementia Coordinator at ddaniel@aging.

sc. gov .