As the American population continues to age, the need for qualified health care professionals continues to grow. However, there may not be enough workers to fill this need.

In order to help fund training for health care workers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award more than $159 million in grant money to help train geriatric specialists and recruit minorities.

It's hoped that the money will enhance the quality of health and better serve people. The Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius says that building a strong health care system is crucial to the country's well-being.

"We cannot build a healthier America if our country continues to face a growing health professions shortage," says Sebelius. "A well-trained, educated and diverse workforce is critical to meeting future health care demands, and to reforming the nation's health care system."

The U.S. Department of Labor says that the need for registered nurses is expected to grow more quickly than average for all occupations. The department predicts that the need for registered nurses alone will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018.