Letter to the editor: Supporting elders and maintaining services

Supporting Elders in New Mexico

Editor:

I and two other seniors from Magdalena had the privilege of traveling to Santa Fe to attend the 5th day of the legislative session at the Roundhouse. The January 27th event was in honor of New Mexican senior citizens and was hosted by New Mexico’s Department of Aging and Long-Term Services. Hundreds of seniors, caregivers, and advocates participated in Senior Day activities.

As we registered, we received a program book that included the schedule and information including pictures and the names of our New Mexican legislators. Attendees had the opportunity to visit several organizations and agencies hosting tables in the lobby. At each table were resource materials and staff to answer questions. Among them were the AARP, the New Mexico Bar Association (Legal Resources for the Elderly Program), the Memory Care Alliance, and NM’s Department of Aging Veteran Directed Care program. (A copy of the program as well as other information is available online - https://www.aginginnm.org/senior-day/)

Before the morning program, about a dozen of us from the counties in the southwestern part of the state were able to visit with Rebecca Dow, Representative for District 38 which includes the city of Socorro. She invited us to sit down in her office. As each person shared their issues and concerns relating to seniors in their community, she took notes and seemed receptive to the problems shared with her. My companion and I also had a chance to briefly visit with Representative Gail Armstrong. In addition to representing Magdalena, Gail now chairs the Republicans in the state house. I took advantage of the opportunity to bring up the issue of increasing the Rural Libraries Endowment fund, an issue of personal interest.

During the 11:00 am morning session, we heard from several government officials and advocates for seniors. as well as folks from the Senior Olympics. Emily Kaltenbach, Cabinet Secretary Designate of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department spoke. Participants were asked to encourage their representatives to reactivate the Long-Term Services Division to improve the provision of services to elders throughout New Mexico. There was also the call for more funding for family caregivers. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made an appearance. In addition to sharing her support for Seniors, she spoke about her stance on public safety.

This was a worthwhile experience that provided me with a great deal of useful information. I learned about many programs available to seniors in the state and appreciated having the opportunity to advocate on behalf of myself, my peers, and caregivers.

Cricket Courtney

Magdalena

Difficulty in maintaining services

Editor:

This past Wednesday (the 12th), once again, cell and internet service from Socorro up to Albuquerque were interrupted for over twelve hours. The cause, it is rumored, was a pole going down when someone crashed into it. Such outages, which seem to happen about twice a year, are not merely inconvenient -- because 911 service is affected, they are downright life-threatening.

Are there no backup systems? Who is responsible for this state of affairs? What, if anything, is being done to prevent this happening again in future?

In light of the city’s difficulty in maintaining some essential services, the recent proposal of such frills as a water park makes that much less sense.

Janet Goldstein

Socorro