New Mexico assisted living facilities and personal care communities

New Mexico Assisted Living Homes

According to New Mexico state law, an assisted living facility is any licensed facility which meets all state licensing requirements and provides assistance for daily living, meal services, and supportive care services. Other terms identifying similar care options include personal care homes, residential care homes, adult aggregate homes, and group homes. Depending on the amount of medical assistance an individual needs, assisted living can be a great option for seniors and their families.

There are currently 284 assisted care homes operating in New Mexico.

Assisted Living Centers in New Mexico – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Alburquerque	$2,750	$5,491	$3,500
Farmington	$2,500	$4,250	$3,950
Las Cruces	$3,150	$4,500	$3,650
Santa Fe	$3,138	$5,100	$3,750

The average cost of assisted living in New Mexico is $3,500 monthly. Compared to the remainder of the United States, New Mexico falls neatly below the national average of long term elderly care at $3,600 per month. Within the state of New Mexico, median area costs for senior living vary. However, the prices tend to rise between $3,500 and $4,000 per month.

For more information about assisted living costs in New Mexico, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in New Mexico

Famous for its uniquely diverse history, New Mexico offers uniquely wonderful sights and activities not found anywhere else. One of the most notable natural monuments in New Mexico is found along the Tularosa Basin. The White Sands Monument offers miles of beautiful white sands created by the neighboring Lake Lucero.

Tour through these natural wonders and surrounding buildings built in Southwestern style architecture. A less romantic but equally as magnificent New Mexico treasure, the Bandelier National Monument offers an array of rugged hiking trails through miles of New Mexico’s most beautiful canyon.

New Mexico’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

Hispanic and Native American settlers have heavily influenced New Mexico’s culture. It is one of the most rugged states with so much beauty and uninhabited lands to explore. When traveling through the state, it is suggested to use caution when traveling through areas where poverty is rampant.

Located in the south west of the United States, New Mexico is characterized by desert like environment and a semiarid climate. Due to it’s environment, New Mexico experiences fairly warm temperatures year round and accumulates between 10-20 inches of rain yearly. During the winter months, New Mexico experiences a mild season during the day with temperatures staying above 50 degrees.

In parts of higher elevation and during winter nights it is common for temperatures to fall to freezing. On the opposite side of the seasonal spectrum, summer in New Mexico sees temperatures exceeding 100 degrees during the day. However, it is commonly in 90-degree range for the majority of the summer and in 70-degree range in the higher elevations of the state. Typically the hottest days occur before the thunderstorm season in July and August.

New Mexico’s Assisted Living Homes Regulations & Laws

Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living and personal care homes. The complete document outlining the official New Mexico state regulations for assisted living homes can be viewed online through the New Mexico Department of Health. Public records concerning inspections, citations, violations and the like pertaining to individual assisted senior care communities in New Mexico are available to obtain via the Provider Search page through the Department of Health website.

Crime & Safety in New Mexico

When looking for a new place to live, it is always important to consider the safety of the community you are in for peace of mind. New Mexico has crime rates that are higher than the national average, though this does not mean there are not safe places to live. If you are not sure where to start your search, we recommend starting your search with these communities in New Mexico:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Lovington	0.86	3.42
Questa	0.00	4.53
Mesilla	0.53	8.44
Estancia	0.00	9.36

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for New Mexico Assisted Living Communities

Centennial Care: Community Benefit

For those seeking financial assistance, New Mexico’s Medicaid named Centennial Care offers long-term elderly care services through the Community Benefit program. This program offers an array of services to elderly residents who choose to remain in a personal care home or elderly care community. The services included assisted senior living services such as assistance with daily living. To find more information on this program, view the official Community Benefit fact sheet online.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Residences in New Mexico

While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The full list of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of New Mexico can be viewed in the official regulations for assisted living homes beginning on page 18.

New Mexico Assisted Living Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

New Mexico assisted living homes are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be readily accessible upon request and should be kept for a period no less than 6 years from death or discharge date.

Residents in New Mexico assisted living or personal care communities have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information, and it is to be provided at a cost not to exceed the community standard.