Title
Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative Community Grant
Action
ACTION:
1) Approve the submission of an application through the funder, Administration for Community Living (ACL) for up to $1,000,000 for a project to enhance and expand services and supports within the County's existing system to address three key areas of individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other disease related dementia.
2) If awarded, recognize, receive, and appropriate the amount awarded to the General Grant Fund (G001) within Child, Family, & Adult Services; and
3) Adopt the required grant project ordinance for the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative Community Grant in the General Grant Fund (G001).
Staff Contact: Tomesia Hawkins, Division Director, Services for Adults
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County is experiencing rapid growth in its aging population, including a significant increase in older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. An expanding number of residents with dementia live alone, face heightened safety risks, experience social isolation, and struggle to navigate a fragmented network of support services. Caregivers, who provide the majority of dementia related care in the community, report rising levels of burnout and difficulty accessing coordinated assistance.
Although the County offers a range of aging and dementia-related services, the system remains partially fragmented, with notable gaps in navigation, in-home assessment, caregiver support, safety interventions, and technology enabled solutions. These gaps contribute to preventable crises, avoidable hospitalizations, and repeated involvement with Adult Protective Services. The Dementia Navigation Program strengthens Mecklenburg County’s Adult Protective Services (APS) by delivering early, targeted interventions for high risk older adults with dementia. APS data and recent presentations highlight rising intake volume, ongoing timeliness challenges, and repeated crises involving adults with cognitive impairment. These situations are frequently driven by caregiver burnout, declining or unsafe home conditions, social isolation, and unmanaged chronic or cognitive health needs. The program mitigates these risks through in-home assessment, ongoing monitoring, caregiver coaching, and focused safety interventions that reduce preventable APS reports, decrease emergency situations, and help stabilize vulnerable households.
This grant also aligns with the eight Domains of Livability in the Age Friendly Mecklenburg Action Plan. By promoting aging in place, improving home safety, strengthening caregiver support, and enhancing access to information and navigation, the program supports the County’s commitment to ensuring older residents can live safely, independently, and with dignity. It further reduces social isolation, addresses transportation barriers, improves community coordination, and enhances communication pathways for older adults and their caregivers, reinforcing Mecklenburg County’s vision for an age friendly community.
This grant opportunity would allow Mecklenburg County to expand an integrated dementia support model that improves safety, stabilizes households, strengthens caregiver capacity, and connects residents to appropriate services earlier. Funding will support a more coordinated system of care designed to reduce crises, lessen strain on County systems, and improve outcomes for older adults and caregivers throughout Mecklenburg County.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
If awarded, Mecklenburg County will receive up to $1,000,000 in federal grant funding from the Administration for Community Living for the three-year period September 2026 - September 2029. The grant requires a 25% County match, which equals up to $250,000 over the full grant term. The County match will be budgeted across the three fiscal years covered by the grant period and may include eligible in-kind contributions, personnel time, or direct costs consistent with federal guidance.