A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images)
More than 45,000 people live with Alzheimer’s disease in New Mexico, according to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, and over 65,000 New Mexicans serve as unpaid caregivers.
In an effort to connect people with research, available services and strategies, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting free educational conferences in various states each month, including a stop in Albuquerque on March 12.
The free conference is open to everyone and will include sessions for people diagnosed with a dementia-related illness, caregivers and family addressing topics on safeguarding the home, strategies for handling aggressive behavior in people with dementia, tips on healthy aging and legal planning.
New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department’s Deputy Cabinet Secretary Antoinette Vigil will be on hand to answer questions about state services available to New Mexicans, such as community-based services, home health care and long-term care facilities. And Dr. Gary Rosenberg, a professor of neurology at the University of New Mexico, will host a session giving an overview of dementia-related illnesses, the common symptoms and warning signs people can look for, risk factors and the different diagnostic approaches.
“Alzheimer’s disease affects thousands of New Mexico families, and events like this are critical for raising awareness about the condition and connecting caregivers with vital resources. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department is committed to ensuring that every New Mexican impacted by Alzheimer’s—whether they are living with the disease or caring for a loved one—has access to the services and support they need,” Vigil said in a statement.
Free memory screenings will also be offered to attendees during the event. And if people are not able to attend the conference in Albuquerque, they can still connect with services and ask questions at their local senior centers.
Promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s and related diseases, and the services available in the state is part of a larger goal of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, according to the 2022-2025 New Mexico State Plan For Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, as is supporting family caregivers and bolstering the state’s caregiver workforce.
Several bills in the current legislative session address issues related to seniors, caregivers and disabled residents, including:
House Bill 131, which proposes stricter background checks for caregivers in response to an increase in severe cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled and older facility residents. The bill, which is supported by the Health Care Authority, is scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee this week.
House Bill 149, which the Aging and Long-Term Services Department supports, proposes enacting the Supported Decision-Making Act. The act would allow people with disabilities and older people to retain their autonomy to make decisions, but with the assistance of a trusted person or team. Supported decision-making is an alternative to conservatorship. HB149 has cleared the House and is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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