Sonia Abeyta

This roadmap outlines a plan for the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department's Long-Term Care Division and its Office of Alzheimer's and Dementia Care, in collaboration with statewide partners. It defines dementia and addresses the need for an updated roadmap, then presents specific goals and objectives across five areas: public education and awareness, caregiving supports, government policy and sustainability, direct services, and workforce development. The plan aims to strengthen and expand current work to address dementia and brain health across New Mexico.

This Area Plan on Aging for State Fiscal Years 2026-2030 establishes a comprehensive framework to support older individuals. Its primary objectives are to expand high-quality home and community-based services, promote equity and well-being by addressing social determinants of health, reduce occurrences of abuse and exploitation, and enhance coordination with tribal entities for funding and program access, all aimed at improving autonomy, choice, and outcomes for older New Mexicans.

This State Plan on Aging outlines four key goals to support older New Mexicans. It focuses on administering and expanding core programs that enable older adults to remain in their residences and communities, promoting equity and well-being by responding to social determinants of health, reducing occurrences of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and assisting Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations in accessing Title III funding while enhancing coordination. The plan aims to improve the quality of life, access to services, and overall autonomy for older adults across the state.

This document serves as a development guide for the New Mexico Area Agencies on Aging's Area Plan on Aging for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. It focuses on several key areas, including requirements for budget reporting, allocation of funds via an Intrastate Funding Formula, and the identification of target populations. The plan prioritizes serving older individuals with the greatest social or economic needs, including minorities, rural residents, and those with specific health challenges or limited English proficiency, along with their caregivers. Additionally, it specifies minimum funding proportions for access, in-home, and legal assistance services, and outlines fiscal policies to support lifelong independence and healthy aging.

This document serves as a development guide for Area Agencies on Aging in New Mexico, outlining the requirements and instructions for creating the Area Plan on Aging for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. It details essential components such as executive summaries, demographic context, needs assessments, agency accomplishments, goal setting, quality management, and public input. The guide aims to establish a framework for delivering coordinated and accessible services to older adults and caregivers, ultimately strengthening New Mexico's publicly funded long-term care system.