♪ 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, WHO IS THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?

>>EMILY: A-L-T-S-D, AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

>>LORENE: THAT'S EASY ENOUGH.

YOU WERE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN 2024 AND CONFIRMED IN 2025 BY THE LEGISLATURE.

I WANT YOU TO TALK TO ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE AS I LOOKED AT YOUR RESUME, SO MANY THINGS WERE LIKE THE PERFECT BUILDING BLOCKS INTO THIS FOUNDATIONAL POSITION THAT YOU NOW HAVE.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?

>>EMILY: WELL, THANKS FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU.

IT'S BEEN REALLY AN HONOR TO SERVE NEW MEXICO AND VERY THANKFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR FOR ASKING ME TO STEP INTO THIS ROLE.

I LOVE THAT YOU SORT OF POINTED OUT THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS.

I STARTED IN AS A YOUNG, A YOUNG ONE, A LONG WAYS BACK WORKING FOR PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL SERVICES, WORKING ON HELPING SET UP RURAL HEALTH CLINICS AND HEAD START, AND HOME CARE AND SENIOR CENTERS, IMAGINE THAT.

THAT WAS AMAZING.

I GOT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE, GET TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY AND I HAD THIS ITCH TO LEARN POLICY BECAUSE I WAS VERY MUCH IN THE DIRECT SERVICE WORLD.

I HAVE A BACKGROUND, A MASTER'S IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND I THOUGHT, LET'S SEE HOW I CAN GET INVOLVED IN POLICY.

AT THAT TIME, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ONE OF MY MENTORS, DEBBIE ARMSTRONG.

>>LORENE: OH, THE MOST WONDERFUL WOMAN.

SHE'S HELPED OUR STATE, SHE'S GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR STATE.

>>EMILY: SHE'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.

>>LORENE: SHE'S A WONDERFUL WOMAN.

>>EMILY: SO SHE WAS MY FIRST BOSS OUT OF COLLEGE AT PMS, AND THEN I FOLLOWED HER TO AGING LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHEN SHE WAS CABINET SECRETARY.

I HAD A GREAT FIVE YEARS THERE, AND I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING WHEN I LEFT, IT WAS REALLY GREAT, MY HEART STAYED THERE.

I WENT OUT AND THEN WORKED IN THE POLICY ADVOCACY WORLD DOING DRUG POLICY REFORM ACROSS THE STATE AND NATIONALLY AND I GOT TO A POINT A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHERE I WAS DOING MORE NATIONAL WORK THAN LOCAL NEW MEXICO WORK, AND THAT MADE ME FEEL SAD.

I WANTED TO BE BACK SEEING MY WORK HAVE AN IMPACT IN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES I GREW UP IN AND SO THIS WAS JUST PERFECT TIMING AND I'VE BEEN ENJOYING THIS ROLE TREMENDOUSLY.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS SO INVESTED IN AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES, AS YOU KNOW.

>>LORENE: SHE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

>>EMILY: SHE WAS THE FIRST CABINET SECRETARY WHEN IT BECAME A DEPARTMENT, SHE WAS THERE LONG BEFORE THAT.

SO HERE I AM.

>>LORENE: YAY, WELL, THANK YOU AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.

SO, YOU WORK WITH SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WHAT IS NEW MEXICO CARE?

>>EMILY: OH, NEW MEXICARE, THERE IS NO O, NEW MEXICARE, IT GETS ME EVERY TIME AS WELL.

THIS IS A GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE AS WELL.

THIS STARTED RIGHT BEFORE I CAME AND IT WAS SORT OF A PILOT IN ITS INFANCY, WE ONLY HAD ABOUT 60 PEOPLE ENROLLED, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY CAREGIVERS IN NEW MEXICO, CAREGIVERS WHO ARE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS, RIGHT?

THESE ARE FRIEND AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS OR NEIGHBOR CAREGIVERS AND THEY ARE BURNT OUT, THEY DON'T GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED AND SO CAREGIVING IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR STATE.

IT'S BUILT INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY AND SO WE RELY ON OUR LOVED ONES.

I THINK EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO CAREGIVING, YOU'VE EITHER BEEN A CAREGIVER, WILL BE A CAREGIVER OR HAVE BEEN CARED FOR.

>>LORENE: YES, EXACTLY.

>>EMILY: AND IT'S ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF THE FAMILY, WE HAVE GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, WE HAVE GRANDCHILDREN CARING FOR THEIR GRANDPARENTS, SO NEW MEXICARE IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE PAY THOSE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS.

>>LORENE: YES.

FINALLY, BECAUSE FOR GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE GRANDKIDS HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF THE GRANDPARENTS, AND PEOPLE GET BURNED OUT.

>>EMILY: THEY DO, WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LITERALLY DEFERRED DREAMS.

SO WHETHER THEY'RE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OR MANY FOLKS CAN'T HOLD DOWN A JOB WHILE CAREGIVING OR GO TO SCHOOL.

>>LORENE: YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ON AN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY COULDN'T DO IT, JUST HAD TO JUST ABANDON IT AND TAKE CARE OF AN ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBER, WHICH THEY DID WITH AN OPEN HEART.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: BUT STILL, TO FINALLY GET THEM PAID, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT TOOK SO LONG.

>>EMILY: IT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM, IT'S BOTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BUT ALSO TRAINING, I HOPE SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN GO BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, THE CAREGIVING WORKFORCE, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING AND HAVE BUILT A REAL-LIFE RESUME FOR THEMSELVES WITH THAT CARE.

SO WHEN I CAME IN, IT WAS STRUGGLING, ABOUT 60 INDIVIDUALS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ENROLLED, TODAY, WE ARE NEARING 1,000, THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WE'RE OPEN STATEWIDE, WE RECEIVED GROW MONEY, WHICH IS MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO TEST PROGRAMS, PILOT THEM, AND THEN EVALUATE THEM.

SO WE JUST DID OUR SECOND-YEAR EVALUATION, AND WE FOUND NOT ONLY DID THE CAREGIVERS STRESS REDUCE AROUND FINANCES OR PHYSICAL STRESS, WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR THE CARE RECIPIENT.

>>LORENE: OH, WONDERFUL, WOW.

>>EMILY: SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE, FINDING DIFFERENT WAYS TO SHOW THE IMPACT, WE'D LOVE TO DO A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO GO INTO NURSING LEVEL OF CARE, THAT CAN BE $10,000 A MONTH OR MORE.

WE'RE PAYING THE CAREGIVER ANNUALLY ABOUT $12,000 OR SO, I MEAN, IT'S NOT COMPENSATING FOR EVERY MINUTE SPENT CAREGIVING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING.

>>LORENE: BUT IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

>>EMILY: IT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

>>LORENE: WE VALUE YOU, AND THAT HELPS BECAUSE IT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING, VERY CHALLENGING.

>>EMILY: VERY CHALLENGING.

>>LORENE: WHAT OTHER INITIATIVES ARE YOU WORKING ON?

>>EMILY: WELL, IN THAT CAREGIVING VEIN AND TOPIC, I MENTIONED BEFORE GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OR KINSHIP CAREGIVING, IT'S NOT ALWAYS A GRANDPARENT; IT COULD BE AN AUNT OR AN UNCLE OR SIBLING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING THE WHOLE FAMILY THERE AS WELL AND THIS IS ALSO A PILOT PROGRAM, THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND REPRESENTATIVE HERRERA WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING FUNDING.

WE NOW HAVE NAVIGATORS IN TWO COUNTIES, SOON TO BE A THIRD, SO IN SAN JUAN COUNTY, ESPAÑOLA, AND SOON TO START IN TAOS COUNTY, FOLLOWED BY SANTA FE.

THE STATE PROVIDES SOME CASE MANAGEMENT, NAVIGATION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND WE'RE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL PHILANTHROPY, WHO ARE PROVIDING A STIPEND TO THESE FAMILIES EVERY MONTH.

SO IT'S A SIMILAR TYPE OF PROGRAM, JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY SPECTRUM.

>>LORENE: WHAT'S THAT PROGRAM CALLED?

>>EMILY: IT'S CALLED THE KINSHIP CAREGIVING PROGRAM.

>>LORENE: THAT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE.

I WOULD LOVE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU WOULD, ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF NEW MEXICO IS OVER 65 AND ARE THERE MORE OLDIES THAN KIDS, LET'S START WITH THAT.

>>EMILY: YEAH.

WELL, WHEN I WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN THE EARLY 2000S, WE CALLED IT THE TSUNAMI, THE AGING TSUNAMI, WHICH I DON'T LOVE, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS DIRE.

>>LORENE: IT DOES.

>>EMILY: THERE'S A BEAUTY IN OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING OUR OLDER ADULTS ACROSS THE STATE, THE OLDER ADULTS ACROSS THE STATE, SO I DON'T LIKE THAT TERM, BUT WE WERE STARTING TO SEE A DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT, NOT ONLY IN THIS STATE BUT NATIONALLY.

AND WE SAID, IN 30 YEARS, NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO BE FOURTH IN THE NATION FOR THE PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION OVER 65 AND WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS 2006.

>>LORENE: WELL, WHERE DO WE STAND, REALLY?

>>EMILY: THAT DATA'S BEARING OUT.

ACTUALLY, IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BY 2030, ONE IN FOUR NEW MEXICANS WILL BE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

WE'RE SEEING THAT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT NEW MEXICO'S POPULATION IS ABSOLUTELY SHIFTING TO THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SHIFTING, AND THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SHIFTING IN RURAL AREAS.

A LOT MORE OLDER ADULTS LIVE IN THE MORE RURAL FRONTIER PARTS OF OUR STATE, WHICH PROVIDE CHALLENGES.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE A SENIOR CENTER, BUT IT MIGHT SERVE A 100-SQUARE-MILE TERRITORY.

>>EMILY: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: NOT EVERYBODY OUT ON THE EDGE CAN COME IN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR SERVICES.

>>EMILY: WELL, THANKFULLY, AND AGAIN, THANKS TO CAPITAL OUTLAY AND OUR LEGISLATURE, WHO HAS INCREASED FUNDING TO THE AGING NETWORK, WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, WE ALL HAVE HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK ON BOOSTING THAT NETWORK AND INNOVATING FOR THE TIMES.

SO THOSE SENIOR CENTERS ARE INVALUABLE AREAS JUST FOR SOCIAL ISOLATION, BECAUSE THAT'S A REAL ISSUE AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES FOR THE CAREGIVERS.

THEY PROVIDE RESPITE CARE, CHORE SERVICES IN THE HOME, FOOD, NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, SO WE NEED THOSE SENIOR CENTERS.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, RIGHT.

WELL, YOU HAVE SOME EVENTS COMING UP THAT I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE'S THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AGING THAT HAD TO BE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE FLOODS, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND THEN THE MEDICARE ENROLLMENT WINDOW THAT'S COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, LET ME SAY WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH EMILY KALTENBACH, WHO IS THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

YOU DO A WONDERFUL JOB AND NOW THAT 25% OF OUR POPULATION IS OVER 65, YOU HAVE A LOT, THERE'S A LOT OF DEMAND FOR YOUR SERVICES.

>>EMILY: A LOT OF DEMAND.

WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE TO 25%, BUT WE'RE JUST ABOUT, WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF IT, BUT YES.

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DEMAND, WE WORK REALLY HARD TRYING TO SHARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES, BUT ACCESSING THEM AND UNDERSTANDING THEM, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR US, THAT INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND ASSISTANCE IS CRITICAL.

>>LORENE: SO I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THE CONFERENCES ON AGING, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THIS YEAR, BUT YOU PROVIDE SO MUCH FOR PEOPLE.

SO WHO ATTENDS, WHO IS IT TAILORED TO AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS BESIDES PHYSICALLY ATTENDING, CAN YOU ZOOM PART OF IT, MAYBE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>>EMILY: WELL, IT'S OUR 48TH ANNUAL.

IT'S AMAZING.

>>LORENE: YAY, YAY.

>>EMILY: I THINK IT'S SO INCREDIBLE THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 48 YEARS.

I IMAGINE, ACTUALLY LONGER THAN 48 YEARS, WE TOOK A LITTLE HIATUS THERE DURING COVID, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER EVER ATTENDING IN GLORIETTA IN THE OLD DAYS.

>>LORENE: YES, I DO, IT'S WONDERFUL OUT THERE.

>>EMILY: SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO GLORIETTA, LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR BACK IN MANY YEARS.

IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE AND GATHERING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE CAN BE IN NATURE AND TO BE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON SITE, MANY OF THEM.

SO WE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO POSTPONE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

>>LORENE: WELL, YEAH, WE HAD FLOODS EVERYWHERE.

>>EMILY: WE DID, IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND SO WE'RE BACK ONLINE OCTOBER 20TH AND 21ST, THAT'S TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY IN GLORIETTA.

WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE 2,000 INDIVIDUALS THERE.

>>LORENE: YAY.

>>EMILY: WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WAITING LIST RIGHT NOW, SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO ATTEND, THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND PUT THEIR NAME ON THE WAITING LIST, I THINK A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WILL FIND A SPOT TO JOIN US.

IT'S TWO DAYS OF INCREDIBLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RESOURCE FAIR WITH MANY STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, TO HELP ENROLL FOLKS IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROGRAMMING FROM ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA INFORMATION, THERE ARE NEW TREATMENTS OUT THERE AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS.

WE HAVE TAI CHI CLASSES, WE HAVE AN ARTS TRACK WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP CALLED HEALING HARMONIES, THEY'RE A SINGING GROUP OF OLDER ADULTS.

>>LORENE: OH, WONDERFUL.

>>EMILY: THEY ARE GOING TO COME PERFORM, BUT ALSO HOST A SESSION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SONG AND SINGING IN ONE'S HEALTH.

THEN YOU KNOW, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, INFORMATION FRAUD, I MEAN, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND THEN WE HAVE A WHOLE TRACK OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BIRDWATCHING, AND FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE SENIOR OLYMPICS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PICKLEBALL AND NATURE WALKS AND FOR THE ADVENTUROUS ONES, ZIP LINING.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE KEYNOTE, AI-JEN POO, WHO HAS LED ORGANIZING IN THE CARE ECONOMY, THIS IS HER WORK NATIONALLY AND WROTE A BOOK ABOUT CAREGIVING, THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREGIVING, THE AGE, DIGNITY.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR HER TO JOIN US, THAT'LL BE ON THE FIRST DAY.

>>LORENE: YOU'RE NOT ZOOMING THAT, ARE YOU?

>>EMILY: UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT, BUT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF THESE VIDEOED, AND THEN WE GET TO SHARE, SO IF FOLKS CAN'T JOIN US.

>>LORENE: THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT YOUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS... >>EMILY: AGING.NM.GOV.

>>LORENE: WE'LL PUT THAT UP THERE.

THE MEDICARE ENROLLMENT WINDOW.

>>EMILY: YES, SO THE CONFERENCE CAN'T START AT A BETTER TIME.

OCTOBER 15 THROUGH DECEMBER 7 IS WHEN OPEN ENROLLMENT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME, IF YOU'RE ON MEDICARE, TO ASSESS YOUR PLAN AND YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS, THAT'S WHEN YOU MAKE A CHANGE.

AND SO WE HAVE BENEFIT COUNSELORS AROUND THE STATE AND ONLINE AND IN A CALL CENTER WHO CAN HELP FOLKS WALK THROUGH THEIR CHOICES, WE'RE AN UNBIASED GROUP, SO WE DON'T REPRESENT ANY PLANS.

PEOPLE CAN CALL OUR AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER, AND THAT'S 1-800-432-2080 AND WE CAN HELP YOU, BUT THERE'S A WINDOW EVERY YEAR TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

>>LORENE: YEAH, AND I HAVEN'T READ MY BOOKLET THAT CAME OUT MEDICARE IN 2027, BUT IT WAS VERY THICK, AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES.

WE HAVE TO BE EDUCATED, WE HAVE TO KNOW, ARE THE BENEFITS REDUCED, EXPANDED, OR JUST DIFFERENT.

>>EMILY: SO IT'S REALLY DEPENDENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR NEEDS, SO SOMEONE'S HEALTH CONDITIONS MAY CHANGE OR A FINANCIAL SITUATION MAY CHANGE, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO JUST SEE WHAT YOUR OPTIONS ARE.

THIS IS ABOUT CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT, AND WE WANT TO BE THERE HELPING MAKE THOSE CHOICES.

WE HAVE AN EXCITING CHANGE HAPPENING JANUARY 1 IN THE STATE, SO A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT IF YOU'RE ON A MEDIGAP OR WHAT'S CALLED A SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN, YOU'RE ON ORIGINAL MEDICARE, AND THEN YOU SHOP FOR A PLAN, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, FOR THE MOST PART, LOCKED INTO THAT PLAN UNTIL NOW AND THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR FOR CHANGING THAT.

IT'S CALLED THE BIRTHDAY RULE, IT'S COMPLICATED, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE JUST FROM THE MARKET, YOU'RE WORKING, YOU HAVE EMPLOYER-BASED INSURANCE, UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THERE'S NO MEDICAL UNDERWRITING, SO YOU CAN SWITCH PLANS IF YOU HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND YOU'RE NOT PENALIZED.

BUT MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL STILL DOES MEDICAL UNDERWRITING, THEY WERE EXEMPT AT A FEDERAL LEVEL FOR THAT.

SO SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CHANGE FINANCIALLY, WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR PLAN ANYMORE, WILL NOW IN NEW MEXICO HAVE AN OPTION TO SHOP FOR AN EQUAL OR LESSER PLAN, SO IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT.

WE'RE FOLLOWING OTHER STATES.

>>LORENE: AND WE CAN CALL THE BENEFIT COUNSELORS AND DESCRIBE OUR SITUATION, THEY CAN ADVISE US.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: WHAT A GIFT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>EMILY: WELL, THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING THIS INTO LAW.

THIS WON'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL 2027 AND THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL BE 30 DAYS BEFORE YOUR BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS AFTER, SO IT'LL BE A SEPARATE ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

BUT, SO OPEN ENROLLMENT, THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO CHANGE YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN, THAT'S OCTOBER 15 THROUGH DECEMBER 7.

AND WE WILL BE GETTING MORE INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY RULE.

>>LORENE: OH, GOOD.

WELL, AND THAT YOU HAVE COUNSELORS TO HELP US, BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THIS MATERIAL AND IT'S LIKE TAXES, YOU READ THIS THING AND YOU SAY, WHAT DO I DO, WE'LL NEED COUNSELORS.

>>EMILY: WELL, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S HARD TO NAVIGATE, TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THESE, AND SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THIS AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER TO HELP.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

IS IT GETTING A LOT OF CALLS?

>>EMILY: OH, SO MANY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS EARLIER, WE'RE SEEING THAT IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS.

MORE CALLS TO THE RESOURCE CENTER.

OUR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES TEAM IS SEEING MORE INVESTIGATIONS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION, IT'S DEFINITELY IMPACTING.

>>LORENE: AH, WOW, WHAT ELSE, THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM?

>>EMILY: OMBUDSMAN.

THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IS REALLY A CRITICAL PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING LEVEL OF CARE, SO THOSE ARE YOUR SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, NURSING HOMES.

WE HAVE A TEAM, A VOICE FOR A LOT OF THOSE CONSUMERS AND RESIDENTS, WE'RE THERE TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENT AND SUPPORT THEIR RIGHTS AND SUPPORT THE QUALITY OF CARE.

SO IF YOU'RE A FAMILY AND YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE IN A NURSING FACILITY OR IN A NURSING FACILITY, CALL US, WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR RIGHTS, TO HELP NEGOTIATE WITH THE NURSING HOMES, MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF CARE IS THERE.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN A NURSING CARE FACILITY AND FELT THERE WAS NO HELP THEY COULD GET, THEY JUST HAD TO EAT WHAT THEY WERE GIVEN AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NICE NURSE'S SHIFT.

>>EMILY: IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY.

>>LORENE: NO, IT SHOULDN'T.

>>EMILY: COMPLAINTS RANGE FROM COLD FOOD, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT, TO VERY SERIOUS ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

>>LORENE: AND THEN THE MEDS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE PATIENT CAN'T ALWAYS BE RESPONSIBLE, SOME OF THEM JUST CAN'T, AND TO BE SURE THAT THE RIGHT MEDICINE IS GIVEN AT THE RIGHT TIME TO THE RIGHT PATIENT, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>>EMILY: SO WE'RE ANOTHER SET OF EYES AND EARS.

AGAIN, WE'RE THERE FOR THAT RESIDENT, WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF YOU.

>>LORENE: WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

>>EMILY: WELL, I THINK THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT AND WE AREN'T QUITE READY YET, SO I'M HOPING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE SEE MORE FUNDING INFUSED INTO THE AGING NETWORK.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PERMANENT FUND FOR AGING SERVICES AND WHAT A NICE COMPLIMENT FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TO THE ADULT DAY SERVICES, WE NEED MORE ADULT DAYCARE IN NEW MEXICO, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, AND SO THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED SUPPORT, BUT THEY STILL WANT TO LIVE AT HOME, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE WORKING, SO, WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CENTER WHERE THEY CAN SPEND PART OF THEIR DAY.

>>LORENE: OUR STATE IS DOING WELL, ALTHOUGH THERE'S A CERTAIN POVERTY CONSCIOUSNESS THAT NEW MEXICO IS A POOR STATE, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, AND OUR LAWMAKERS ARE REALLY DILIGENT IN PROVIDING CARE TO THE YOUTH AND THE ELDERLY.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

>>EMILY: IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER, WHEN WE SUPPORT THE WHOLE FAMILY, EVERYONE WINS.

JUST LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THERE'S A GRANDPARENT RAISING A GRANDCHILD, IT'S THE SAME FAMILY UNIT THAT BENEFITS.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH, COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN CULTURES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE JAPANESE, WHERE THE ELDERLY ARE REVERED AND RESPECTED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SHIFT FROM THE YOUTH, YOU KNOW, THE SIZZLE OF BEING YOUNG.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF SIZZLE AS ONE AGES AND GETS WISDOM AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CULTURAL SHIFT TO APPRECIATION OF AN OLD PERSON GOING SLOWLY, NOT JUST TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY, BUT TO STAND BACK AND SAY, CAN I HELP YOU?

>>EMILY: WELL, I THINK NEW MEXICO IS POSITIONED TO BE A LEADER THERE BECAUSE WE REALLY DO RESPECT OUR ELDERS IN OUR TRIBES, NATIONS, AND PUEBLOS.

THE IDEA OF FAMILY IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN HELPING PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT I THINK NEW MEXICO CAN REALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT CULTURAL SHIFT.

>>LORENE: YES, AND, WELL, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ANOTHER VISIT, BUT WE JUST HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

WOULD YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND TELL THEM HOW THEY CAN GET HELP AND WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING.

>>EMILY: ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, WE'RE HERE FOR NEW MEXICANS, FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, IF YOU'RE A CAREGIVER, YOU'RE AN OLDER ADULT, YOU'RE AN ADULT LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, YOU CAN CALL OUR RESOURCE CENTER 1-800-432-2080 OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE AGING.NM.GOV >>LORENE: PERFECT, PERFECT.

AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE FAMILY MOVES AWAY AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE DYING OFF BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, TO GROW OLD.

THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGE AND THAT YOU END UP BEING ISOLATED, IT'S HARD FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON LIVING ALONE, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE IT A POINT TO CULTIVATE YOUNGER FRIENDS, BUT I JUST LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THINGS THAT HAVE THAT ENERGY, THAT HAVE THAT JUICE AND I TRY TO OFFER WHAT I CAN IN EXCHANGE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S FUN.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AS A RECIPIENT OF MANY OF YOUR SERVICES, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF OLD PEOPLE HERE.

>>EMILY: THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THIS SHOW WILL REALLY HELP.

SO I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUEST, EMILY KALTENBACH, CABINET SECRETARY FOR AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND COME BACK, WE'VE GOT TO DO A COUPLE OF UPDATES BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE ENROLLING IN THESE PROGRAMS AND REALIZING WHAT'S THERE FOR THEM AND NAVIGATING THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS, THIS IS REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING 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.

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