Health care in the United States continues to undergo rapid change, presenting both opportunities and challenges for community-based aging and disability organizations (CBOs). These organizations meet many health care related needs of people with disabilities and older adults, such as addressing nutrition issues, providing transportation to medical appointments, assisting with vaccine access, and providing personal assistance with daily activities, allowing people to live in their own homes. Demand for CBO assistance with these “social determinants of health” continues to grow, but funding and other resources for these community organizations are often scarce.

The Administration for Community Living, with public and private partners, has worked to strengthen aging and disability CBOs from the inside by helping them build their business skills and enhance their effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. ALTSD is partnering with the Aging and Disability Business Institute to prepare and train the New Mexico Aging Network to become more financially and programatically sustainable.

Aging and Disability Business Institute, Area Agencies on Aging, providers of services and community based organizations.

At the heart of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department’s mission is the belief that New Mexico’s older adults and adults with disabilities have the right to remain active participants in their communities, to age with respect and dignity, to be protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation and to have equal access to health care. The Department is a leader in developing programs and building partnerships that support lifelong independence and healthy aging.

Provide accessible, integrated services to older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to assist in maintaining their independence, dignity, health, safety, and economic well-being, thereby empowering them to live independently in their own communities as productively as possible.