New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department: ADRC, ALTSD, and What They Do

When you first start caring for an aging parent in New Mexico, you'll encounter acronyms everywhere — ALTSD, ADRC, HCA, MCO. Understanding what these agencies actually do (and which ones matter for your situation) can save weeks of being bounced between offices.

ALTSD: The State's Elder Care Hub

The Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is New Mexico's primary state agency for older adults and people with disabilities. It provides or coordinates:

• Information and referral services for families navigating elder care
• The Central Registry waiting list for home and community-based services
• Adult Protective Services investigations
• Long-term care ombudsman services (advocacy for people in nursing homes and assisted living)
• Senior meal programs (congregate and home-delivered)
• Caregiver support programs

ALTSD does not directly manage Medicaid eligibility — that's handled by the New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA). But ALTSD operates the gateway that connects families to Medicaid-funded services.

The ADRC: Your Starting Point

The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is ALTSD's front-line operation. Think of it as the intake system for everything elder care in New Mexico.

The ADRC provides:

• Single point of entry: One phone call connects you to information about all available services — Medicaid, non-Medicaid, state-funded, federal, and community programs
• Options counseling: Trained counselors help you evaluate your parent's needs, compare service options, and develop a care plan
• Central Registry enrollment: If your parent qualifies for Turquoise Care's Community Benefit (home and community-based services), the ADRC registers them on the Central Registry waiting list
• Benefits screening: Staff can assess which programs your parent might qualify for and help initiate applications

To reach the ADRC, call the ALTSD main line at (505) 476-4799 or the toll-free Aging and Disability Resource Center Helpline at 1-800-432-2080.

The Central Registry: Getting on the List

The Central Registry is the state's waiting list for Turquoise Care Community Benefit services. Registration is required before your parent can receive home and community-based services through a Managed Care Organization.

The registration process includes:

1. Contact the ADRC for an initial intake assessment
2. Provide basic information about your parent's needs and living situation
3. The ADRC determines if your parent meets preliminary eligibility criteria
4. If eligible, your parent is placed on the Central Registry
5. When a slot opens, the MCO conducts a full Nursing Facility Level of Care assessment

Wait times vary by region. Urban areas (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces) generally have more provider capacity, while rural and tribal communities often face longer waits.

Regional Offices

ALTSD operates through five Area Agencies on Aging across New Mexico:

Your local Area Agency on Aging handles the community-level services like home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, and caregiver respite programs. Contact them through the ADRC helpline for region-specific resources.

What Legal Authority You Need First

Interacting with ALTSD and the ADRC doesn't require legal authority — anyone can call for information. But once you move beyond information gathering into actual service enrollment, applications, and benefit management, you'll need documentation:

• Turquoise Care application: Requires a valid POA with government benefits authority, or an Authorized Representative designation on the HCA application, or certified Letters of Conservatorship
• Adult Protective Services cooperation: If APS is investigating your parent's situation, having a POA or guardianship allows you to participate fully in the process
• Central Registry follow-up: Managing your parent's placement and MCO selection requires authorized representative status

The New Mexico Power of Attorney and Guardianship Kit ensures your legal authority is in place before you need it — so you're not scrambling for documents when an ALTSD service slot opens.

See more New Mexico guides →