Beth Velasquez

Dorothy “Dottie” Hu of Corrales is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t just give of her time to others, she ensures that children are taken care of in the most desperate of times and encourages others who might be feeling forgotten or left out, to accompany her on her journey.

Do you have questions about issues facing New Mexico’s senior population? Get those questions answered and take an opportunity to voice your concerns or share your suggestions with New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department Cabinet Secretary Gino Rinaldi.

Two of AARP New Mexico’s volunteer leaders, Jerry Gunderson, of Las Cruces, and Mabel Blacksheep, of Window Rock, AZ, have been accepted into the AARP Volunteer Leadership Institute. The Institute is an intensive leadership program that prepares volunteers for new responsibilities and opportunities that support AARP’s mission.

It’s a day of family fun, good music and community resources. Join AARP New Mexico for its Fourth Annual Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 18 th, in Albuquerque.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) recently selected Adelante Development Center to operate a Benefits Connection Center to help low-income seniors find out which governmental benefits they are eligible to receive and to assist them with the enrollment process. The agency is now providing an easy, coordinated program that helps people gain access to multiple government assistance programs through one source free of charge, making sure that New Mexico’s seniors and people with disabilities have assistance throughout the screening and application process. Adelante’s Benefits Connection Center connects people to core governmental benefits including:

Isleta Resort and Casino will be the site of a two-day Summit that will take a comprehensive look at hunger issues across New Mexico with the goal of identifying ways to end hunger in our state.

AARP New Mexico is conducting a free “Red or Green” Listening Session on Medicare basics Wednesday, July 30 th, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the South Valley Multipurpose Center, 2008 Larrazolo Road SW, Albuquerque.

A new scorecard on long-term services shows that while New Mexico ranks first in the amount it spends on Home and Community Based Services, it ranks 37 in support for family caregivers and 38 in the area of Quality of Life and Quality of Care. Overall the Scorecard gave the state a ranking of 14, but the individual indicators show what areas still need work.

AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2014 New Mexico Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ volunteers who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

Often people become family caregivers by circumstance. It starts slowly – you find yourself helping your loved one by running errands, sorting through bills, and picking up prescriptions. But how do you know when it’s time to become a full-time caregiver and who all should be involved in that discussion?