Senior Services                 

Albuquerque's senior population is extremely active participating in Senior Sports & Fitness Programs, The New Mexico Senior Olympics and senior centers and community volunteer programs.

Department of Senior Affairs

(505)764-6400

Six full service senior centers and 20 satellite mean centers are located throughout the area.  The centers provide recreational and social activities such as sports, arts and crafts, dance and cultural events.  The centers offer over 70 exercise classes per week.

The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County under the umbrella of its Department of Senior Affairs, offers seniors a wide array of services and opportunities to enhance our community's quality of life. From services for active and healthy seniors to services for frail, homebound elderly, the Department of Senior Affairs provides a continuum of care especially designed to meet individual needs throughout the aging spectrum. Our programs will challenge mind and body, involve seniors in the community, or help to keep the frail living independently in their homes as long as feasible.

Sports and Fitness

The Department of Senior Affairs' Sports and Fitness programs offer seniors a selection of exercise activities, available at senior/satellite centers and other locations, designed to help keep seniors active and healthy.

Location: Palo Duro Senior Center
5221 Palo Duro NE, 87110
Phone Number: (505)888-8166
Coordinator: Karen Baker

SENIOR SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS
 

Adapted Aquatics
(505)888-8166

Adapted Aquatics classes are open to anyone interested in a more active lifestyle. The classes are designed to improve strength, balance, and flexibility, and build muscles and bone density. Adapted Aquatics is the perfect exercise for individuals with arthritis and/or limited mobility because the exercises are not stressful to joints and limbs. Classes are held in the UNM therapy pool (shallow and 92 degrees). You do not need to know how to swim! Adapted Aquatics are inexpensive: 50˘ for a van ride, and 50˘ at the door. Call your Senior Center for class and van departure times.

Exercise Classes
(505)888-8166

Exercise Classes are designed to improve strength, balance, flexibility, cardiovascular capacity, endurance, and bone density. Exercise Classes are conducted Monday-Friday, at the Department's seven senior centers and include Exercise to Music and Gentle Exercise classes.

Winter Olympics
(505)888-8166

The Winter Olympics is a full day of competitive events and fun for the entire family at the Sandia Peak Ski Area! Competitions include races for beginners and advanced skiers in downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. We also have fun events in snowball-throwing accuracy and distance. The events are scheduled in early February with registration in January. The Winter Olympics culminates with a complementary gala awards ceremony and buffet. Registration fees are minimal.

Albuquerque Senior Olympics
(505)888-8166

Albuquerque Senior Olympics includes: Air Gun, Archery, Bowling, Badminton, 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Free Throw, Cycling, Dance Competition, Fun Events, Frisbee, Horseshoes, Golf, Track and Field, Eightball Pool, Race Walking, Racquetball, Roadrace, Shuffleboard, Swimming, Softball, Triathlon, Table Tennis, Talent Show, Tennis, Volleyball, and Frail Elderly Events.

Albuquerque Senior Olympics is made up of beginner to advanced athletes who enjoy friendly competition. Albuquerque Senior Olympics is open to all people living in the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County area who are at least 50 years young. Program booklets are available in January and registration runs through mid-March. Events commence in April and run through mid-May. All competitions are divided into 5-year age categories. Top finishers receive awards and have the opportunity to advance to state and national competitions in designated sports.

Senior Winter Sports Program
(505)888-8166

The Senior Winter Sports Program includes classes and recreational trips in snowshoeing, downhill and cross country skiing. There is also a very special Senior Winter Sports Competition in mid-February.

For those who would like to learn to cross country ski, the Beginners Cross Country Ski Class is for you. If you have skied but feel you need a refresher, then sign up early for the Cross Country Intermediate Review class.

Recreational day trips in snowshoeing, downhill and cross country skiing are held three days a week throughout January, February, and March. Costs range from $7.10 to $10.25 and include trips to the Sandia, Jemez, Manzano and Santa Fe mountains. Overnight trips to ski areas are also scheduled in late January and February.

The Senior Winter Sports Catalog is available at all of the Senior Centers in November of each year. Registration is scheduled for early December each year at Palo Duro Senior Center.

Strength Training/Fitness Room
(505)888-8166

The Senior Sports and Fitness Program offers a full weight room/fitness center at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. Statistics show that through resistive training programs, mature adults can retard bone loss, increase muscular strength, remain active, prevent falls and live longer, independently. Strength training classes are available and instruction includes: components in cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, back stability and practical instruction in how to use weight machines.

Coming in Spring 2005, the Palo Duro Senior Fitness Center will open and make one more fitness room available to seniors. Located west of San Mateo, south of Comanche, on the McKinley Middle School grounds, the new fitness center will be the headquarters of the Senior Sports and FItness Program as well as offer numerous opportunities for seniors to weight train.

SENIOR CENTER LOCATIONS
 

Barelas Senior Center
714 7th Street SW
(505)764-6436

Bear Canyon Senior Center
4645 Pitt NE
(505)291-6211
 

Highland Senior Center
131 Monroe NE
(505)256-2000
"Where friends are made and friendships grow!"

Los Volcanes Senior Center
6500 Los Volcanes NW
(505)836-8745

Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center: The Center for All Ages
501 Elizabeth SE
(505)275-8731

North Valley Senior Center
3825 4th Street NW
(505)761-4025

Palo Duro Senior Center
5221 Palo Duro NE
(505)888-8102

Senior Information Line

Call or visit the Senior Information Line, your one-stop senior information phone line and resource center.

714 Seventh Street SE
(505)764-6400

 
SENIOR CARE SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS

Care Coordination
(505)764-6400
Care Coordination provides a comprehensive in-home assessment to determine the needs of frail elders followed by linkage with appropriate services throughout the community. Care Coordinators coordinate and arrange Department of Senior Affairs/Area Agency on Aging in-home services such as home delivered meals, special needs transportation, homemakers (non-medical homecare), in-home respite care, mental health counseling, and Senior Companions.

Home Repairs
(505)764-6400
For homeowners aged 60 and older, non-licensed work is provided for such services as replacing windows, fixing minor plumbing problems, and installing door locks to help secure residences.

Home Retrofit
(505)764-6400
Help is provided to income-eligible disabled persons of all ages in modifying their living space to accommodate special needs. Home Retrofit installs grab bars, wheelchair ramps, and safety rails, and other supportive equipment. Step modification and other minor remodeling are also possible to enhance self-sufficiency.

Home Chores
(505)764-6400
For homeowners aged 60 and older, annual yard work, painting and other needed chores are provided.

Special Needs Transportation
(505)764-6400

Door-to-door transportation to medical providers and escort into the building is available for frail Bernalillo County seniors aged 60 and older who need assistance getting from the home to the vehicle or who have physical or mental limitations that make the senior unable to be left alone at any time. Care Coordinators from the Department of Senior Affairs conduct in-home assessments to determine eligibility. Donations are requested.

Area Agency on Aging Contract Programs

Visit the Area Agency on Aging online at http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/

Senior Citizens' Law Office (SCLO)
(505)265-2300
The Senior Citizens' Law Office provides free legal services to Bernalillo County elderly aged 60+ in civil (non-criminal) cases. Services are targeted toward older persons with the greatest economic and social needs and are provided by appointment. Legal clinics are held at some senior centers. Donations are requested.

ASSESSMENT/Screening Medication Management
The UNM College of Nursing offers a variety of health care services to Bernalillo County seniors aged 55+ at clinics held in four senior centers. The program assists seniors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and independence. Nominal fees are charged for foot care and fitness physicals. Clinics are closed between semesters.

Mental Health Counseling (Professional/Peer)
(505)764-6400
Mental health professionals provide mental health counseling for homebound elderly who don't have access to mental health services. Peer counseling by trained and supervised seniors is also available to persons needing support for depression or life adjustment problems. Care Coordinators from the Department of Senior Affairs conduct eligibility assessments.

Homemaker/Respite
(505)764-6400
Non-medical homecare services are available to frail homebound Bernalillo County seniors aged 60 and older who are unable to perform two or more Activities of Daily Living and who have limited income and assets. Services may include light housekeeping, personal care, and errands. Transportation is not provided. Care Coordinators from the Department of Senior Affairs conduct in-home assessments to determine eligibility. There is normally a waiting list.

In-Home Respite Care
(505)764-6400
In-Home Respite Care provides limited relief to full-time caregivers of frail, homebound Bernalillo County seniors aged 60+ who have an Alzheimer's or related dementia problem. The family income must be below $30,000 annually. Care Coordinators from the Department of Senior Affairs do a comprehensive assessment to determine the family's eligibility.

Senior Day Care: Share Your Care
(505)291-1700
The Senior Day Care program provides a supportive environment for frail elders aged 60 and older to reduce isolation, prevent premature institutionalization, and provide respite for caregivers. Five senior day care sites are available throughout the city. Suggested donations, cost sharing scale fee, or private pay.

NEW MEXICO...VISIT FOR A LIFETIME