German Centre Receives Alzheimer’s Association CDRI Grant to Improve Respite Care for Those With Dementia

German Centre, a trusted name in senior care for over a century and an affiliate of Legacy Lifecare, is excited to announce the organization has been awarded $117,221 from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI). This grant will enhance the quality and availability of dementia-specific respite care for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers in West Roxbury and neighboring communities.

German Centre is one of 41 recipients chosen to receive grant funding from more than 200 applicants across the country. The funds will support the launch of a dedicated Music Therapy Program at the Centre’s long-standing Adult Day Health Program, Senior Place. This new initiative will offer participants structured, evidence-based music therapy tailored to their individual care plans, enhancing quality of life, fostering self-expression, and providing meaningful engagement.

“German Centre is honored to be included in this select group of community-based service providers,” said Mary Beth Caruso, Executive Director of Senior Place.” Caring for someone with dementia can be both emotionally and physically overwhelming. This grant will significantly enhance the care we provide at Senior Place by introducing individualized music therapy that prioritizes personal choice, connection, and shared experiences. It will offer meaningful engagement for participants while also delivering much-needed respite and support for their caregivers.”

In conjunction with the grant, German Centre will also receive online training and ongoing technical assistance from the CDRI to ensure respite services are dementia-capable and to support sustainability. The CDRI will also collect data and evaluate the impact of these innovative projects from all grant recipients to inform public policy.

“We congratulate German Centre on its grant and look forward to working with its team to help enhance respite care services for local dementia caregivers,” said Sam Fazio, Ph.D., Vice President, Care and Support Programs and Research, Alzheimer’s Association. “We intend to gain insights from each respite program we fund, ultimately developing a catalog of programs, tools and resources that will be easily accessible to interested caregivers and care providers.”

The Alzheimer’s Association created the CDRI in 2024 after receiving a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Over the next four years, the CDRI will provide $25 million in grant funding to local respite providers and organizations to enhance the quality and availability of respite care nationwide.

Funding disclosure

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $13,261,685 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $3,285,728 amount with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

About German Centre

Established in 1914, German Centre (formerly known as Deutsches Altenheim) was originally designed to serve as a retirement residence for elderly German immigrants. As German Centre expanded and flourished, the organization became a cornerstone of the Greater Boston community. Today, the nonprofit, which comprises German Centre Home for skilled nursing, Edelweiss Village for assisted living and memory care, Schrafft Pavilion Memory Support Neighborhood, and Senior Place Adult Day Health, consistently enjoys a 5-Star rating. The organization continues to offer superior care in a trusted, experienced environment. Its campus in West Roxbury provides long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, assisted living, and adult day health services to residents and clients of all ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds.

About Legacy Lifecare

Legacy Lifecare Inc. is a nonprofit management resources collaborative that provides small-to-mid-sized organizations with the infrastructure needed to succeed in today’s complex senior care environment. In addition to JGS Lifecare, other affiliates include Chelsea Jewish Lifecare of Chelsea and Peabody, Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Jamaica Plain, Elizabeth Seton Residence and Marillac Residence of Wellesley, Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Jamaica Plain, Stone Rehabilitation & Senior Living of Newton and Saint Joseph Living Center of Windham, CT.