♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS EMILY KALTENBACH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>EMILY: OH, THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE HERE.

I'VE, FOR MANY YEARS, FOLLOWED YOUR WORK AND SO IT'S AN HONOR.

>>LORENE: I'VE FOLLOWED YOUR WORK.

YOU ARE THE SECRETARY DESIGNATE OF AGING IN LONG-TERM SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU'VE HAD SUCH AN INTERESTING CAREER BECAUSE YOU HAVE A WAY OF LOOPING BACK TO SOME OF THE SAME THINGS, BUT AT A HIGHER LEVEL, SO IT'S A MYTH OF ETERNAL RETURN.

>>EMILY: I LOVE THAT.

>>LORENE: SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

I KNOW YOU WERE WITH PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL SERVICES FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING AT AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

AND THEN, WELL, YOU JUST TELL ME, BECAUSE YOU HAD A VERY BIG STATEWIDE JOB, TELL ME.

>>EMILY: IT'S BEEN A REALLY AMAZING COUPLE OF DECADES.

I STARTED WITH PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL SERVICES.

I WAS REALLY YOUNG, I WAS RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND RURAL HEALTH, SO IMPORTANT.

IT'S BEEN SORT OF THE THREAD THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, SO I GOT TO TRAVEL ALL AROUND THE STATE AND HELP SET UP RURAL HEALTH CLINICS AND DO SOME PLANNING FOR PMS AND GOT TO KNOW REALLY THE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND OUR STATE.

SO I DID THAT ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT A DECADE.

>>LORENE: WELL, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE OFTEN WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE, THEY TALK ABOUT FOOD DESERTS, BUT ARE THERE HEALTH CARE DESERTS, AREAS THAT ARE JUST RURAL, PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE'S NO HEALTH CARE.

>>EMILY: WE STILL HAVE FRONTIER DESIGNATED AREAS IN OUR STATE.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT CATRON COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND PMS HAD AND HAS A CLINIC OUT IN CATRON COUNTY.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST REMOTE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DESERTS, I MEAN, IT'S A FOOD DESERT, IT'S A TRANSPORTATION DESERT, IT'S A HEALTH CARE DESERT.

I MEAN, IT'S OUT THERE, BUT WHAT WAS REALLY FASCINATING WAS THAT THESE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OR THE HEALTH HUB, SO TO SPEAK, BECAME MORE THAN JUST HEALTH CARE, IT BECAME THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY, IT BECAME A PLACE FOR OTHER ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED AND MEDIATED AND SO JUST LIKE LIBRARIES, RURAL LIBRARIES, RURAL HEALTH CLINICS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>>LORENE: WELL, THAT'S SUCH A GIFT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NOW, YOU BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE, THAT'S A BIG STATEWIDE JOB.

>>EMILY: YEP AND SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.

IT WAS A SHIFT, BUT I STILL KEPT THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AND RURAL HEALTH ELEMENT TO THAT WORK.

SO YES, I RAN THE STATE OFFICE AND WE FOCUSED ON PROBLEMATIC DRUG USE AND THE POLICIES AROUND IT, HOW DO WE SHIFT DRUG USE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE FROM A CRIMINAL ISSUE AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT POLICY, WHICH I WAS ALSO DEEPLY INTERESTED IN.

SO I ACTUALLY WENT FROM PMS TO AGING A LONG TERM SERVICES AND THEN TO DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE.

SO IT'S SORT OF BUILDING BECAUSE I WAS SO INTERESTED IN POLICY WORK AS IT RELATES TO HEALTH CARE AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT TOOK ME.

MOST RECENTLY BEEN DOING MOSTLY NATIONAL WORK, BEFORE JOINING, ON DRUG POLICY.

SO I'VE MISSED NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU WORKED SO HARD TO HELP, TALK ABOUT PROGRESSIVE DRUG POLICIES, TO HELP TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS FOR ADULTS AND IN 2021, TELL ME WHAT FINALLY WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

>>EMILY: YEAH, IT WAS AMAZING LOOKING BACK, AS I REMEMBER SAYING, PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, WHEN DO YOU THINK NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO LEGALIZE AND I SAID 2021 AND AMAZINGLY THAT WAS THE YEAR.

AND THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR FOR LEADING THAT EFFORT AND MAKING NEW MEXICO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER STATE.

>>LORENE: THE 18TH.

>>EMILY: I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER BECAUSE NEW YORK AND NEW MEXICO PASSED WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER.

>>LORENE: IT WAS REALLY PROGRESSIVE AND A REAL GIFT TO THE PATIENTS OF THE STATE AND THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY AND YOU KNOW, FOR US WORKING AT THAT TIME AND FOR ME WAS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE, THAT FOLKS SHOULDN'T BE ARRESTED AND JAILED AND THEIR LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN FOR SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.

SO I SAW FAMILY, YOU KNOW, GREW UP IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN NEW MEXICO AND I SAW HOW SOME OF THOSE POLICIES REALLY PUT HARDSHIPS ON FAMILIES.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO, THE ENEMY IS PAIN AND IT IS MEDICINE AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT, NOT AS THE BIG BUGABOO, GATEWAY TO HELL, TO HEROIN, TO ALL THESE THINGS.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN THE 18TH STATE TO DO THAT AND TO OFFER HELP TO OUR CITIZENS AND SUPPORT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M INTERVIEWING YOU A FEW DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE, SHE HERSELF WAS A FORMER AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND EVERYONE'S MENTOR IN ALL THIS WAS FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE ARMSTRONG.

AGAIN, THIS WONDERFUL SPIRIT WHO WAS ALSO A FORMER AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES SECRETARY.

SO YOU HAVE HAD HIGH QUALITY MENTORS AND REALLY HIGH QUALITY PEOPLE AND THIS IS A POPULATION WHERE THE NEEDS ARE SO GREAT, SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FACTS TO GET IN, UPCOMING SENIOR DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE IS JANUARY 27TH, 2025 AND FOR OUR AUDIENCE OUT THERE, PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER SENIORS THEMSELVES OR INTERESTED IN SENIOR ISSUES, IT IS A GREAT DAY TO COME HERE.

>>EMILY: IT'S GREAT.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE THERE ARE SPEECHES ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE WHOLE ROTUNDA IS FILLED WITH INFORMATION AND SWAG AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS, SO IT'S A DAY NOT TO BE MISSED.

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS YOUR BUDGET FOR FY 26, I GUESS IT IS.

WHAT ARE YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR?

>>EMILY: WELL, A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AND IMPORTANT TO ME ARE THE CAREGIVERS, THE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS OF NEW MEXICO.

THE GOVERNOR SET UP AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM CALLED NEW MEXICARE, WHERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO ARE CAREGIVERS AND DOING IT, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM.

IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, THEY CAN GET PAID TO DO THAT CAREGIVING.

SO THERE'S SOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, SO ONE OF OUR ASKS IS CONTINUING THE SUPPORT OF THE NEW MEXICARE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE AN AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER AND THAT'S A CENTRAL INTAKE, SO IF SOMEONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR MEDICARE COVERAGE OR NEEDS INFORMATION ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE OR OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS, THEY CAN CALL AND WE HAVE COUNSELORS ON STAFF.

OUR CALL VOLUME IS INCREASING MONTH OVER MONTH AND SO WE'RE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP SUPPORT MORE FTE IN THAT CALL CENTER.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>EMILY: BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF SENIORS IN OUR STATE IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND SO OUR BUDGET NEEDS TO GROW WITH IT.

>>LORENE: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE DATA BECAUSE, NEW MEXICO'S AGING POPULATION IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, I HAVE SOME FACTS HERE THAT NEARLY 20% OF NEW MEXICO'S POPULATION IS 65 YEARS OR OLDER, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS 17.7%.

AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I THINK THAT NUMBER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IS GOING TO BE 24 OR 25%.

SO THERE'S A STEEP INCREASE, NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE LIVING LONGER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OLDER POPULATION IN NEW MEXICO.

THE BABY BOOMERS ARE ALL 65 NOW, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: AND A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO RETIRE IN NEW MEXICO, PUTTING A FURTHER BURDEN ON THE SYSTEM.

>>EMILY: AND YOUNGER PEOPLE LEAVE, YOU KNOW.

THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES, IF YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS BY COUNTY, YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF OUR MOST RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ELDERS.

>>LORENE: PEOPLE OVER 60 MAKE UP 39% OF THE POPULATION IN SIERRA, CATRON AND HARDING COUNTIES.

>>EMILY: CATRON COUNTY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEALTH CENTER.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT CENTER IS THE SENIOR CENTER AND SO OUR BUDGET IS REALLY FOCUSING ALSO ON HOW DO WE EXPAND OUR AGING NETWORK SERVICES, BECAUSE THOSE SENIOR CENTERS ARE LIFELINES TO MANY, THAT'S WHERE THEY GET THEIR FOOD, THEY GET HOME DELIVERED MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, RESPITE, REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES.

>>LORENE: A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A PLACE TO GO HANG OUT.

>>EMILY: IT'S WONDERFUL, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO GET A MEAL IF YOU'RE OVER, YOU KNOW, THE ELIGIBILITY AGE, WHICH I THINK VARIES, PUT ME ON THE SPOT HERE.

BEING AN OLDER ADULT, GO GET A MEAL, IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO HAVE THAT COMMUNITY.

>>LORENE: YES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY LOVELY WHAT YOU DO.

SO, I'VE BEEN MEANING TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN BECAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN OF VISION AND AS YOU SEE THE THREAD THROUGH, YOU KNOW, RURAL HEALTH CARE AND THE ELDERLY AND HOW IS IT, ARE YOU EASILY ABLE TO MANIFEST YOUR VISION OR IS IT UPHILL?

>>EMILY: WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TWO YEARS AND I WANT TO LEAVE THIS DEPARTMENT IN THE BEST SHAPE IT'S EVER BEEN FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION.

SO PART OF THAT IS THINKING ABOUT THAT PIPELINE OF CAREGIVERS, SO THAT IS CENTRAL TO MY VISION.

IT'S EXPANDING NEW MEXICARE, THAT CAREGIVER PROGRAM, AND MAKING SURE ALL FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT.

BACK TO THOSE CAREGIVERS, IMAGINE JUST THE STRAIN, ECONOMIC STRAIN, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL STRAIN, THAT CAREGIVERS, EXPERIENCE TAKING CARE OF LOVED ONES AND SO WE NEED TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT OUR ELDERS TO STAY IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT AND NEED AND CAN, BUT ALSO THE CAREGIVERS.

THAT'S MY VISION, TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF FORMAL DIRECT CARE WORKERS AS WELL AS INFORMAL.

>>LORENE: WELL, ALSO I NOTICE THE CITY OF SANTA FE HAS RESPITE FOR CAREGIVERS, JUST TO HAVE A DAY OFF, YOU KNOW.

YOU HAVE TO SHARPEN THE SAW, YOU HAVE TO RESTORE YOUR SPIRITS AND YOUR ENERGY.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, CAREGIVERS HAVE WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>>LORENE: OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS SAY IN THE AIRPLANE, PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN FIRST AND MOST OF THESE CAREGIVERS ARE JUST TENDING TO OTHER PEOPLE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH THAT FINALLY WE HAVE TO PAY CAREGIVERS REAL MONEY.

IT'S A REAL JOB, IT'S A HARD JOB AND THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THEIR VALUE.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY AND WE FORGET THAT THERE ARE CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNGER ADULTS CARING FOR THEIR ELDERS.

YOU KNOW, THE SANDWICH GENERATION, I'M ONE, I HAVE OLDER PARENTS AND A CHILD UNDER 18 AT HOME.

SO YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE, THE STRAIN EITHER AS YOU'RE AN OLDER ADULT TAKING CARE OF A CHILD OR A YOUNGER ADULT.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH EMILY KALTENBACH, SECRETARY DESIGNATE OF THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FILLING US IN ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE TALKED MUCH ABOUT THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN THE STATE, IN THE COUNTRY, OF COURSE, BUT IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND I ASKED YOU IF YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH HELP, KIND OF SURFING THIS WAVE, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT, THE SILVER TSUNAMI.

>>EMILY: THERE YOU GO.

>>LORENE: I LOVE THAT EXPRESSION.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT, WHAT IS A SILVER TSUNAMI AND WHEN IS IT GOING TO HIT?

>>EMILY: WELL, WHEN I WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN THE 2006 TO 2011, WE WERE NOTICING THE TSUNAMI OUT THERE AND SORT OF RAISING THE ALARM THAT BY 2030 WE WERE MOVING FROM 30TH TO FOURTH IN THE NATION AND THAT IS BEARING OUT.

YOU KNOW, BEING BACK HERE NOW ALMOST 20 YEARS LATER, WE ARE JUST, WE HAVE FIVE YEARS TO GO AND THAT DATA IS REAL.

IT'S MORE THAN DATA, IT'S THEIR LIVES AND OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE OLDER ADULTS.

AND SO WE, AS A DEPARTMENT, HAVE A HEAVY LIFT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY.

I MEAN WE'RE READY, ALMOST THERE AND WE KNOW THERE'S SO MANY OLDER ADULTS WHO NEED SERVICES AND SUPPORT AND CAREGIVERS, THAT'S OUR MISSION, THE DEPARTMENT.

AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY BUILT INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR CULTURE, OUR FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF OUR LOVED ONES AND BEING AT HOME IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

IT KEEPS US ALIVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND JOY.

>>LORENE: THAT'S AGAIN WHERE WELL-PAYING THOSE CAREGIVERS WHO HELP THE SENIOR CITIZENS REMAIN IN THEIR HOME AND A FUNCTIONING PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND PART OF THEIR FAMILY, AND NOT WAREHOUSED HOUSED OFF SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW.

>>EMILY: THAT'S RIGHT.

SOMETIMES THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT AND ONE REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT ARE THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN.

THEY BECOME THE VOICE AND THE EYES AND EARS OF RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, PROTECTING RESIDENTS' RIGHTS, MAKING SURE THERE'S QUALITY CARE AND SERVICES.

WE HAVE 300 FACILITIES THAT FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF OUR OMBUDSMAN ACROSS THE STATE AND WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.

I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH IT'S SUCH A REWARDING EXPERIENCE TO BE A VOLUNTEER TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS IN THESE NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

AND SO IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN LISTENING AND WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, I ENCOURAGE IT.

I WAS TALKING TO A CARDIOLOGIST WHO SAID TWO OF HIS PATIENTS WERE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN, AND HE WOULD PRESCRIBE IT BECAUSE JUST THAT VOLUNTEERISM, THE SOCIAL CONNECTION GOES BOTH WAYS.

>>LORENE: ONE OF OUR GOVERNORS, WHO WAS HEAD OF LONG-TERM AGING SERVICES, WENT UNDERCOVER AT SOME OF THESE PLACES AS A PATIENT AND WAS HER EYES WERE OPEN WIDE AND SHE WENT BACK IN AS HERSELF AND SAID ALL THIS HAS TO CHANGE.

YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THE PATIENT FIRST, NOT THE CULTURE, THE CAREGIVER, NOT ALL THAT, PATIENT CENTERED CARE FIRST.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY.

SHE HAS BEEN THE FIERCEST WARRIOR FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS, WE HAVE HER TO THANK FOR SO MANY REFORMS IN LONG-TERM CARE AND HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE REAL SERIOUS ISSUES.

WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS ARE SAFE IN THOSE FACILITIES.

>>LORENE: SO WHAT CHANGES ARE COMING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND HOW CAN WE ALL PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

AS A CULTURE, I THINK ABOUT HOW THE JAPANESE TREAT THEIR ELDERS.

WE'RE A LITTLE FAR FROM THAT.

BUT IN FAMILIES TO RESPECT THE ELDERS AND COMMUNITIES TO RESPECT THE ELDERS, HOW CAN WE DO PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN FOR THE VALUE OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND I MEAN AGE AND EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON THAT.

THAT'S SO VALUABLE AND WE DON'T WANT TO MISS WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER US.

>>EMILY: WELL, THAT'S WHY I LOVE SENIOR DAY, BECAUSE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SENIORS ACROSS NEW MEXICO COME AND GET TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS.

I THINK THAT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE, THEY'RE VOICING THEIR NEEDS AND WE NEED TO DO THAT MORE.

WE NEED TO LIFT UP THE ISSUES, HEAR FROM SENIORS, FROM CAREGIVERS AND REALLY REDUCE SOME OF THE STIGMA THAT COMES WITH AGING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS THAT NEED TO BE EXPANDED, LIKE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM WHERE GRANDPARENTS OR OLDER ADULTS GO INTO SCHOOLS AND HELP WITH READING OR THEIR SENIOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW WE THINK AFTER A CERTAIN AGE PEOPLE DON'T BELONG IN THE WORKFORCE, THAT IS A REAL ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO BE IN THE WORKFORCE.

THEY NEED TO KEEP WORKING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE OUR WORKPLACES AMENABLE TO OLDER WORKERS.

SO THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE STIGMA.

>>LORENE: ONE EVENT THAT I USED TO GO TO ALL THE TIME, UPCOMING IN FALL OF THIS YEAR IS THE 47TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AGING.

WHO CAN COME TO THAT AND WHERE WILL IT BE IN THE STATE AND HOW DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

YOU OFFER SO MUCH AT THESE CONFERENCES.

>>EMILY: IN ADDITION TO SENIOR DAY, WE HOST AN INCREDIBLE CONFERENCE THAT IS FOR OLDER ADULTS.

IT'S NOT FOR THE PROVIDERS, IT'S FOR OLDER ADULTS.

WE BRING IN PROGRAMING AND TRAINING AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE 47TH ANNUAL.

MANY PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE REMEMBERED THE OLD DAYS WE TOOK OVER THE GLORIETA CONFERENCE CENTER, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SPOT TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

OUR HOPE IS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

ANYONE CAN COME, I ENCOURAGE CAREGIVERS TO COME TO LEARN MORE.

>>LORENE: DO YOU KNOW THE DATE, I JUST HAVE FALL 2025.

>>EMILY: THE DATES, WE'RE STILL LOCKING THAT DOWN, WE'RE HOPING IT WILL BE SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.

>>LORENE: GOOD AND IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL UP THERE TOO.

>>EMILY: SO FINGERS CROSSED, WE'LL RETURN.

BUT REGARDLESS, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL EVENT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS TO HAVE A CONFERENCE ALL THEIR OWN.

>>LORENE: I'M HOPING TO ATTEND MYSELF, IT'S GOING TO BE LOVELY.

SO WE SEE HOW THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING AND I AM CONCERNED, AS YOU ARE, WITH PROVIDING MORE SERVICES AND AS THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AND THE NEEDS ARE GREATER, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEY CALL IT THE SILVER TSUNAMI, WE JUST HAVE TO BE READY, WE HAVE TO BE READY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THANK YOU.

>>EMILY: I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TO HELP, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE GREATEST NEEDS ALSO IS TRANSPORTATION.

I WAS LEARNING ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS FOR OLDER ADULTS TO GET TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS OR GROCERY SHOPPING, INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THE NON-METRO AAA IS LAUNCHING THIS, WELL, THEY ALREADY HAVE IT, THEY'RE EXPANDING THIS GREAT VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO HELP.

>>LORENE: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>>EMILY: SO THERE ARE ALL THESE AMAZING PROGRAMS, WE JUST HAVE TO EXPAND THEM AND BRING THEM UP TO SCALE TO MEET THE NEED.

>>LORENE: SO YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE UNSUNG HEROES ARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND THEY'RE THE BACKBONE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHY, TO HAVE THEM FINALLY BE PAID FOR WHAT THEY DO IS SO IMPORTANT.

EVEN IF A PERSON'S SOLE INCOME IS SOCIAL SECURITY OR RETIREMENT OR SOMETHING OFTEN THAT ISN'T ENOUGH.

SO TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PAY PEOPLE FOR THEIR HELP.

OF COURSE, THE SATISFACTION OF GOOD DEEDS AND HELPING PEOPLE IS WONDERFUL TOO, BUT THESE DAYS THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING IS GOING UP AND A LOT OF SENIORS HAVE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD OR MEDS AND THAT'S HEARTBREAKING, SO WHAT'S THE STATE DOING ABOUT THAT?

>>EMILY: SO THE NEW MEXICARE PROGRAM IS, I THINK, JUST A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN, IT'S ALSO A SELF-DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM SO AN INDIVIDUAL CAN CHOOSE THEIR CAREGIVER IF THEY MEET CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE PAYING CAREGIVERS, BUT OLDER ADULTS GET TO CHOOSE WHO THAT CAREGIVER IS AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HAVE HAD SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN YOUR DOCTOR FOR SO LONG, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT'S COMING UP, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH GERIATRICIANS TO COVER THE ELDERLY.

I MEAN THE STATISTICS ARE PRETTY FRIGHTENING.

OUR POPULATION OF ELDERLY IS GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH GERIATRICIANS AT ALL, NOT AT ALL.

I THINK THERE'S 7000 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, MORE OR LESS.

>>EMILY: THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE INCREDIBLE FAMILY PRACTICE DOCS AND OTHERS WHO CARE FOR OUR ELDERS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME SOME CLINICIANS THAT ARE REALLY TRAINED, WHETHER THEY'RE GERIATRICIANS OR INTERNISTS OR FAMILY PRACTICE, PROVIDERS AROUND THE STATE WHO KNOW HOW TO TREAT OUR OLDER ADULTS.

WE KNOW WE'RE NOT THE HEALTHIEST STATE AND SO OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE VERY VULNERABLE.

THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME SERIOUS CHRONIC DISEASES AND NEED SOME SPECIAL ATTENTION AND CARE.

>>LORENE: AND I THINK EVEN THE GOVERNOR IN HER STATE OF THE STATE MENTIONED WITH THE GROWING ELDERLY, THEIR PROBLEMS WITH CAREGIVING, DEMENTIA, FOOD SECURITY, ELDER ABUSE, ASSISTED LIVING, AGING AT HOME.

I MEAN, THIS IS A PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT NEW MEXICARE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TOP THREE CHALLENGES ARE OF THOSE AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT.

SO TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHO TO CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE.

>>EMILY: YES.

WELL, CAREGIVING I WOULD PUT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, ACCESS TO CAREGIVERS IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST NEEDS SO PEOPLE CAN LIVE AT HOME.

AGAIN DIGNITY AND JOY AND INDEPENDENCE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WELCOME PEOPLE INTO THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY, SO IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS SUPPORT, HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO NEEDS SUPPORT, CALL OUR AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER THAT IS THE ENTRY POINT, YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION AND ALSO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION AND NEGLECT AND ABUSE.

SO, THERE'S A NUMBER THERE AND NEW MEXICARE, SO OUR WEBSITE HAS ALL OF THOSE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS.

IF YOU WANT TO BECOME AN OMBUDSMAN VOLUNTEER, YOU CAN CALL, IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE IN A FACILITY AND YOU NEED AN OMBUDSMAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE LOOKED AT, PLEASE CALL.

SO WE DO A LOT WE'RE A SMALL AGENCY, BUT COMPARED TO MANY, BUT WE DO A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK.

>>LORENE: YOU DO A LOT OF ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL WORK AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS EMILY KALTENBACH WHO IS THE SECRETARY DESIGNATE.

I'M SURE WHEN THE SENATE COMES IN, YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE CONFIRMED FOR THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND I'M SO HAPPY YOU CAME ON TO LET OUR AUDIENCE KNOW HOW THEY CAN REACH YOU AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM.

>>EMILY: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORENE.

>>LORENE: IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

♪ MUSIC