In 2004, the New Mexico State Legislature created the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) to provide a clear and focused approach to meet the complex social, medical and behavioral needs of a burgeoning older population. As an equal partner with other cabinet-level departments, the Aging and Long-Term Services Department provides a direct voice and access to critical resources for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers.
The Department’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), which serves more than 4,200 people a month, connects constituents to a broad array of services and is a visible and trusted source for objective information. The ADRC is recognized nationally as an innovative single-point-of-entry for all New Mexicans and is the link that integrates ALTSD services, as well as the services of other state agencies and public/private partners. Individuals call the ADRC toll-free number for many reasons, such as reporting adult abuse, accessing a home-delivered meal, obtaining in-home and community-based care or volunteering in a local community.
ALTSD is the designated state agency for the protection of adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The Adult Protective Services Division (APS) provides a statewide system of protective services for adults and elders who lack the capacity to protect themselves. APS receives and screens approximately 10,000 reports of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation each year, with 60% of these reports requiring an investigation. Short-term, in-home and community-based supportive services are provided to more than 1,500 victims annually, preventing continued maltreatment and reducing the likelihood of institutionalization.
The Department’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program promotes and protects the rights of persons living in nursing homes and other institutional settings. Specially trained Ombudsmen work with New Mexicans who wish to leave institutions and return to their own communities. Ombudsman volunteers provide over a quarter of a million dollars of service to long-term care residents annually.
More than 300 Aging Network organizations, funded by the Department, provide services to 115,400 older adults throughout the state, particularly in rural, tribal and frontier areas. Congregate and home-delivered meals are among the most critical services – more than 3.6 million meals are provided each year. Employment Services for older adults promote economic security and economic development, particularly in rural areas. Health promotion initiatives help older New Mexicans maintain their ability to actively contribute to their local communities, serving as valuable resources rather than utilizing publicly funded resources. More than 5,200 older New Mexicans sponsored by the Department’s volunteer programs provide approximately 2,282,000 hours of volunteer service in communities throughout New Mexico. The estimated value of these services is $41,737,000.
The Aging and Long-Term Services Department is an essential resource for more than 200,000 New Mexicans every year. |
Secretary Retta Ward |