A Public Service of Santa Fe Community College
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

45th New Mexico Conference On Aging Being Held In Albuquerque

Many seniors joined care givers and state officials for the 45th annual New Mexico Conference on Aging.
Kevin Meerschaert
/
KSFR-FM
Many seniors joined care givers and state officials for the 45th annual New Mexico Conference on Aging.

Hundreds of seniors and advocates have gathered at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque for the state’s annual Conference on Aging.

The 45th annual conference began on Monday and features several discussions from Medicare to backyard gardening and other critical

 issues related to older adults’ well-being, healthcare access, and opportunities for discussions and collaboration.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham opened the conference talking about the passing of her mother last year and the caregiving she needed at the end, as well as the Governor’s aunt with dementia who while having resources still struggles to get the services she needs.

Lujan Grisham asked the seniors to get involved and make their voices heard in their communities.  

“I’m not asking you to pick up trash, I’m asking you to think about ways that you can lift up your community,” she said. “Nobody does that better than a retiree because people know you, trust you, and respect you, and they should. You led your families, you ran a business, you worked your lifetimes, you know everything about everything. A world of wisdom resides in each and every one of you.”

The conference also included a discussion on New Mexicare. It’s the Caregiver Health Model program to provide financial assistance and training to caregivers who are assisting  friends or family members with daily activities due to physical or cognitive limitations.

The goal is to allow older adults to thrive in their homes and communities and reduce nursing home placements and emergency department visits.         

Related Content
  • President Bush says Social Security is in "crisis," but polls show a majority of seniors think the system needs only minor fixes. Retirees in Arizona and Pennsylvania weigh in on the issue.
  • Behind the fight over possible legislation to overhaul Social Security is a battle for the allegiance of older voters -- and it's turning nasty. A conservative group called USA Next surprised a lot of people by running an online ad attacking the senior citizens' group AARP. The ad charged that AARP's "real agenda" wasn't Social Security or any other seniors' issue, but rather an alleged opposition to the troops in Iraq and alleged support for gay marriage. NPR's Peter Overby reports.
  • At the Oatfield Estates assisted-living facility in Oregon, residents are tracked around the clock through a system of badges and sensors. It may sound creepy, but for residents with Alzheimer's or dementia, it allows them the freedom to roam while giving staff and loved ones the ability to check in at any time.
  • Senior citizens are the fastest growing segment of Santa Fe's population. The city provides a wide array of services for elders, paid for with a…
  • The CLASS Act, part of the health care overhaul, will provide about $75 a day to people who sign up for the long-term care insurance policy. Advocates say it could help people stay in their homes. But critics raise concerns about the financial viability of the program.