Federal grant awarded to help elderly

Sun Staff

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 9:45 a.m.

The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas has been awarded $650,000 in federal funds designated for serving the elderly, United Jewish Community officials announced Thursday.

Combined with matching local funds from the Alice and Harry L. Goldberg Foundation, the grant will fund a project to enable seniors to receive services where they live, keeping them out of institutional care.

The project is dedicated to demonstrating innovative ways to provide health and supportive services to senior citizens living in retirement communities and will provide funds for the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas to create and promote a national model that can be followed in similar communities throughout the nation.

"Ninety percent of the senior population wants to live the latter part of their lives in their homes," said Bob Unger, president of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. "The demonstration allows our federation to develop innovative, cost-effective programs to make aging in place a good choice for older Americans."

Chief Executive Meyer L. Bodoff said the announcement of the grant is a historic milestone for the Las Vegas Jewish community.

"While these funds will be used to support new senior adult services in both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities, it allows the Jewish community led by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas to take its rightful place of leadership and responsibility in our community, " he said.

The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas is one of 13 community groups nationwide to receive the federal grant.

For more information, call 732-0556 or visit jewishlasvegas.com.