HHS Announces $36 Million to Help Older Americans and Veterans Remain Independent
Grants include first-time collaboration with VA to support America’s veterans

On Monday, September 29, 2008, HHS Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy announced $36 million in new grant programs to 28 states to help older Americans and veterans remain independent and to support people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes and communities. Just over $19 million of this funding involves a new collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The joint effort, announced at the 24th Annual Home and Community-Based Services Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, will provide essential consumer-directed home and community-based services to older Americans and veterans of all ages, as part of a Nursing Home Diversion (NHD) grants program. The new initiative builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve. In addition, Deputy Secretary Troy announced a $17 million investment to improve the delivery of home and community-based services to people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers. For more information, visit http://www.aoa.gov/press/For_the_press/pr/archive/2008/September/9_29_08.aspx

National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2008

On September 12, 2008, President Bush issued a proclamation designating September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. In the proclamation, President Bush recognized the many Americans of Hispanic descent who have made outstanding contributions to our Nation. He also stated that National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the spirit and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans everywhere. To read the proclamation in its entirety, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080912-14.html (offsite)