The month of May has been designated as Older Americans Month, and this year, the month’s theme is “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow.”

This theme is designed to ensure that senior citizens are fully informed about preventive care and programs available to help older adults have better health and avoid the risks of chronic disease and injury.

One of my highest priorities is ensuring that senior citizens in the Ninth District have access to the best possible health care services, and I am continuing to work with agencies on aging, local governments and health care providers to expand access to high quality care for our region’s older residents.

The Recovery Act, which was approved by Congress with my strong support and signed into law by President Obama, includes provisions to ensure that older Americans are part of our nation’s economic recovery. As a result of the measure, Social Security and SSI beneficiaries as well as individuals who receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement Board are entitled to a one-time payment of $250.

Nearly 55 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive the recovery payment, and the payments are expected to inject more than $13 billion into the economy. The Social Security Administration began delivering these payments May 7 by check for those recipients who receive benefits by check and by direct deposit for those who receive benefits by direct deposit.

Additionally, as a result of the Recovery Act, Virginia is receiving more than $1.5 million for congregate nutrition services which are provided at senior centers and other community locations. Additionally, Virginia will receive more than $750,000 for home delivered nutrition services, which are made available to seniors who face difficulty traveling to a senior center.

We are also making great strides in expanding health care services to senior citizens throughout Southwest Virginia. Last month, I announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a grant of $150,000 to the Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, which provides care to seniors in Tazewell, Dickenson, Buchanan, and Russell Counties. The funds will be used to hire a new geriatric mental health professional to assist patients avoid misuse of medications and with substance abuse issues.

The new mental health professional will work as part of one of the Ninth District’s innovative PACE programs. PACE, an acronym for Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly, enables one location to be the single source for all care that is needed for senior citizens including primary health care, occupational therapy and social services. There are more than 40 such programs operating in the United States, and PACE programs have been developed at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens as well as Mountain Empire Older Citizens, which serves seniors in Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties and the City of Norton.

Mountain Empire Older Citizens is constructing a new facility to house its PACE program. The new Center will house a medical clinic, a rehabilitation clinic, personal care facilities, activity and dining areas, a caterers kitchen and staff offices. Also, $4 million in federal funding has been provided to assist Mountain Empire Older Citizens construct its PACE Center, which will be the first of its kind in a rural area in the United States.

I am pleased that these significant federal investments have been provided to improve the quality of life for our region’s senior citizens, and I will continue to work to ensure that high quality care is available to older residents throughout the Ninth Congressional District.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at the New River Voice.