Seniors Issues
I've spent my entire career fighting for New Mexico's seniors. As the Director of the New Mexico State Agency on Aging and then as Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Aging and Long-Term Services, I worked to protect seniors from scam artists, helped seniors remain in their homes and addressed poor quality care in nursing homes, even going undercover to investigate reports of patient abuse. I also expanded critical services for seniors and fought for new programs to address end-of-life care issues and provide legal services to seniors throughout New Mexico.
As a caregiver for my mother, I know that many New Mexicans rely on Medicare and Social Security to make ends meet and get the health care they need. New Mexico’s seniors can be reassured that I will work to ensure the solvency of these programs for generations to come. I strongly oppose any effort to privatize Social Security and Medicare and will work to assure seniors that these programs will be available for them. I also believe we should empower home caregivers so that more seniors can continue to be active in their communities and healthy in their homes.