It's still hard to believe that Robin Williams – beloved comedian, actor, father, and friend – is no longer with us. To the public and even close friends, he appeared to be happy, upbeat and funny, and he was financially stable — all of those things that seem worth living for.

In recent years, the United States has experienced a number of significant natural disasters. Several of these events happened with little or no warning. One key lesson that we have learned from these unfortunate circumstances is to "be prepared," a message that is especially important for older Americans and people with disabilities.

Over the course of my service as Assistant Secretary for Aging, one imperative has stood above all others: preventing elder abuse. I talk about it every chance I get, and it is something we all need to talk about. Preventing elder abuse must be part of the national conversation about how we care for older Americans.

Today, President Obama signed the "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act" into law. This bipartisan bill, which recently passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 95-3 and the U.S.

"How is my child doing?": parents and other caregivers often ask themselves. Several federal projects are underway to support parents and professionals who work with young children in answering this universal question.

Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee spoke about opportunities to improve the well-being of older persons to the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing this week.

By Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy, Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Whether they’re designing new digital programs to tutor students in mathematics or organizing meal programs for elderly neighbors; whether they’re driving veterans to doctor appointments or visiting patients in nearby hospitals, older Americans are transforming lives and communities across the country.

On June 6, 2014, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued important guidance on implementing Section 2402(a) of the Affordable Care Act.