AFTD’s Comstock Grant program, which offers modest financial assistance to people with FTD and their care partners, has benefited hundreds of families through its Respite Grants, Travel Grants, and Quality of Life Grants, which AFTD introduced in 2017. Six years later, we are introducing changes designed to streamline the delivery of Quality of Life Grants – and provide more support to recipients.

The Comstock Quality of Life Grant offers direct financial assistance to persons diagnosed, allowing them to purchase products or services to improve their quality of life. Persons diagnosed could apply once per fiscal year (which runs from July 1 to June 30) for a $500 Visa card. 

Following its pilot run of 22 recipients, the Quality of Life Grant has grown rapidly — AFTD awarded almost 400 Quality of Life Grants last fiscal year, with recipients using them for iPads or tablets to support communication, exercise equipment, hobby supplies, or for celebrating a favorite pastime, for example. 

As interest in the Quality of Life Grant has grown, we have identified certain challenges: stores not accepting the card, difficulty using the card, cards being lost or stolen, and funds not being used. AFTD has responded to these issues by making the following adjustments for fiscal year 2023, which starts July 1:

AFTD is committed to retaining the grant’s strong person-centered focus, allowing persons diagnosed to use it in ways that have maximum impact on improving their quality of life, with the support and supervision of a care partner or family member as necessary.

The full Comstock Grant program for FY24 will open on July 1 with these changes in effect. Care partners can apply for the Respite Grant by clicking here. People living with FTD can apply for a Quality of Life Grant by clicking here. Guidelines for both grants are available on their respective application pages.