HHS Provides Grants for Innovative Alzheimer’s Care

More than $10 million in grants to develop innovative approaches to care for Alzheimer’s patients and help their families is being offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the grants in July.

The awards will support new demonstration programs in eight states—Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—as well as the continuation of programs in 25 other states.

Among the agencies to get funding is the Kansas Department of Aging in Topeka, Kan. Part of the money will be used to increase access to care for rural and Hispanic seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. It will also be used to develop an arts center for nurturing creativity in Alzheimer’s patients.

Another grant is going to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health in Jackson, Miss. Part of this money will be used to expand existing in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients. Another part will be used to jump-start volunteer-staffed day care centers for African-American patients so that their caretakers can get some relief.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services in Oklahoma City is getting a grant to provide home and community-based services to African-American, Native-American, and rural seniors with Alzheimer’s, as well as to their families. The services will be provided by mentors and volunteers.

Another grant is earmarked for the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services in Charleston, W.Va. Part of the funds will be used to start day care centers for Alzheimer’s patients. Another part will be used to create a toll-free statewide help line for Alzheimer’s caregivers and to identify and address other needs of low-income Appalachian families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. ▪