NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Take Action. Talk. That’s the message on 35 billboards across the state. The Alzheimer’s Association is teaming up with the state, hoping to spark conversations about Alzheimer’s. “We’re the first state in the nation to be partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Emily Kaltenbach, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services department.
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It’s a new campaign to get New Mexicans talking to loved ones about Alzheimer’s. “It’s a growing issue, a public health issue in our state and it’s really important that families have the tools and the support to talk to their loved ones about Alzheimer’s and making sure that there’s early detection,” said Kaltenbach.
State officials said the growing number of elderly residents in New Mexico sparked the partnership about a year ago, but recent headlines about the death of American actor Gene Hackman, who suffered from the disease, brought more attention to the brain disorder. “You know, it’s an awful tragedy. It highlights the need for our state to take better care of those who are taking care of our loved ones, caregivers. There’s a lot of stress from financial strains to emotional and physical strains and so we need to do a better job of wrapping ourselves around those caregivers,” said Kaltenbach.
The billboard guides people to a website that provides them with information on local organizations that can help. It also lists a phone number people can call 24/7 with any questions about Alzheimer’s.
They want people all over New Mexico to know they are not alone. “What we think is critical about this is that there are resources available that people can learn about through this campaign for the caregivers. Not only are there 46,000 New Mexicans living with this disease, but there’s an estimated 67,000 family members who are unpaid caregivers for their loved ones,” said Jim Herlihy, Vice President of Communications for the Alzheimer’s Association in the Rocky Mountain region.
The billboards will be up until the end of June.
The cabinet secretary for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department said they will hold forums to listen to families who are struggling with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Those forums will be in Silver City in March, Clovis in April, and Tucumcari in May.