NM Aging agency announces forums on dementia-related illnesses
A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images)
The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department will host three community forums throughout the state over the next three months to hear about experiences with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses and connect people with available services.
The free forums, jointly produced by the aging department and the Alzheimer's Association, will be held in Silver City, Clayton and Tucumcari.
'No one should have to face Alzheimer's alone,' Emily Kaltenbach, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, said in a statement. 'Whether they are caregiving for a loved one or facing a diagnosis themselves, we hope that we can start to break the silence around Alzheimer's, promote early detection, and ensure that everyone has the resources they need.'
Silver City
March 26, 3 to 5 p.m.
Silver City Public Library, 515 W. College Avenue
Clayton
April 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Clayton Civic Center, 124 N. Front Street
Tucumcari
May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tucumcari Convention Center, 1500 U.S. Route 66
RSVP to the forums by calling 505-404-9857.
According to an ALTSD news release, organizers encourage attendees to share their stories of living with dementia, caring for someone with dementia, voice concern and ask about available services.
Joey Long, aging department spokesperson, told Source NM an Alzheimer's Association's representative will be on hand at all three forums, as well as staff from the department's Consumer and Elder Rights Division, who will provide information about Medicare and Medicaid options, home-delivered meals, prescription drug assistance, caregiver assistance and legal service options. Kaltenbach will attend the Silver City and Clayton forums, while Deputy Secretary Antoinette Vigil will attend the Tucumcari event.
During the recently completed legislative session, lawmakers passed several bills that will impact seniors in the state, including House Bill 131, which would tighten background checks for potential caregivers; and House Memorial 53, which requests more research be done on Alzheimer's disease, clinical trials and early detection, and asks the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and the Department of Health to work together in disseminating information to New Mexicans. Both passed and HB131 awaits a signature from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rosemary, sage could boost brain health: Study
(NewsNation) — A recent study has found that rosemary and sage may have a positive impact on brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The study released in the Antioxidants journal shows a compound shared by the two herbs called carnosic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that shield brain cells from damage similar to what can lead to Alzheimer's. Researchers were able to create a more stable form of carnosic acid called diAcCA. Screen time a symptom, cause of emotional distress in kids: Study In preclinical studies, the researchers found that the compound improved memory, boosted brain synapses and reduced harmful Alzheimer's-related proteins like amyloid-beta and tau. The diAcCA compound only activates in inflamed brain regions, which could minimize side effects. To date, studies in mice have shown significant cognitive improvements and no signs of toxicity. Researchers are looking to start human trials soon. Researchers also believe diAcCA could help treat other inflammatory conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's disease. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fire Watch program; helping veterans, first responders cope with trauma
The Brief A new virtual program is helping veterans and first responders cope with trauma. The Fire Watch program is available at Rogers Behavioral Health. FOX6 News spoke with a peer specialist who is, himself, recovering from trauma after military service. WAUKESHA, Wis. - Veterans and emergency responders are often first to run into the line of fire. Now, a new virtual program is giving them support to work through the trauma. What we know When veteran Chris Swift came back from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said he had to learn some lessons the hard way. "Some people are like, 'Oh, tell me some cool stories.' Well, they're not always cool stories. They don't understand all the stuff that goes along with it," Swift said. "I drank a lot when I came back. I ended up getting three DUIs. I went to rehab at the VA for about four months, then I went to jail for about seven months." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Swift said he is now six years sober. He is also a peer specialist for the Fire Watch program at Rogers Behavioral Health. The goal of the program is to provide help and mental health support for veterans and first responders. The program first launched in September 2024. What they're saying "We can do a wide variety of things within this program. We focus on moral injury, but moral injury can come in a lot of different forms. And we can see it come across as anxiety or depression," said Jennifer Parra-Nelson, Clinical Director of Trauma Services & Fire Watch program. Moral injury is the guilt and shame that can come from trauma. The VA defines it as "the distressing psychological, behavioral, social, and sometimes spiritual aftermath of exposure to such events. A moral injury can occur in response to acting or witnessing behaviors that go against an individual's values and moral beliefs." Organizers said addressing that is an important part of the eight-week, 100% virtual program. Participants go through therapy, learn practical coping mechanisms, and connect with others going through the same thing. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We've seen a lot seen a lot of patients come in just with a lot of stigma. And with a lot of possibly thinking that maybe this won't work for them. And I think we've seen a lot of people be surprised that we are very accessible to this population," Parra-Nelson said. Swift said his goal is to help others who were in his shoes – for their sake and the sake of their loved ones. What you can do Learn much more about the Fire Watch program and how it might be able to help someone you love. Program organizers said insurance covers the Fire Watch program. Medicaid is also accepted. The Source The information in this post was provided, in part, by Rogers Behavioral Health.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kansas faces $3.77B in Medicaid cuts, thousands to lose coverage under Trump's bill: report
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas will lose more than $3 billion in Medicaid funding, and thousands of Kansans will lose access to health insurance under Trump's proposed bill, according to a new report. New modeling shows 13,000 fewer Kansans would be able to enroll in Medicaid under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' recently passed by the U.S. House, and the state would lose $3.77 billion in total Medicaid funding. Man charged in death of Platte County sports reporter shot on I-29 The modeling showed $2.29 billion in lost federal Medicaid funding alone—and $3.77 billion when combined with associated state funding losses over a 10-year period. Such losses would likely lead to higher uninsured rates and more financial struggles for rural hospitals already on the brink of closure. These results were recently released by Manatt Health, which conducted the analysis at the request of Kansas health philanthropies United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and REACH Healthcare Foundation. The two organizations wanted to better understand the financial and enrollment impacts of the bill, which would cut $700 billion from Medicaid and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers more than 366,000 Kansans, is funded jointly by the state and federal government. It provides low-income parents, children, seniors and people with disabilities with health insurance. Adults who do not have children do not qualify for Medicaid in Kansas. 'If this bill passes, it will cause long-lasting harm to thousands of families across Kansas and seriously threaten the survival of rural hospitals across the state,' said Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO at REACH Healthcare Foundation. The analysis shows Kansas will face significant coverage losses and funding reductions over the next 10 years. Manatt said the losses are even greater than shown in the analysis, as data limitations made it unable to model all the provisions in the bill. The estimates do not account for prohibitions on states setting up any new provider taxes or increasing assessments for other providers. That will cause Kansas health care providers, including nursing homes and other health providers, to lose critical funding over time and cause them to become even more financially vulnerable, Manatt said in a news release Wednesday. Coverage losses due to the bill's changes to the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace also couldn't be modeled. However, they will result in additional Kansans losing health insurance, according to Manatt. Not only will the bill remove people's health insurance, it also will remove food assistance. The bill includes $300 billion in cuts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 'Congress is trying to rush a plan through the process that will take health care and food assistance away from tens of thousands of Kansans, including children, seniors and people with disabilities,' said David Jordan, president and CEO at the Health Fund. 'At a time when hospitals are trying to keep their doors open and working families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables, we cannot afford these cuts.' Kansas already has more hospitals at risk of closure than any other state in the country. A recent report from the University of Kansas School of Nursing highlights the growing 'maternal care desert' in Kansas. Manatt said 63 rural hospitals are currently at risk, and 87% of Kansas rural hospitals are operating in the red. These hospitals struggle to survive with existing federal funding – and provisions in the bill would cause them to lose billions, making it even harder to stay open. When rural hospitals close, it removes job opportunities and access to health care, creating a ripple effect in small communities, Manatt said. You can read the full report below or by clicking here. Medicaid-Cut-Impacts-to-KansasDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
