About
About ALTSD
By the year 2030, New Mexico’s percentage of population over age 65 will move from 29th to fourth largest in the nation.
Our mission is to serve and inspire the state’s older adult community to live active, healthy lives and enhance their connections within their community. The department is a leader in developing programs and building partnerships that support lifelong independence and healthy aging, providing advocacy, support, and resources for seniors and for adults with disabilities.
Who we are
- Created in 2004 by the New Mexico State Legislature
- New Mexico’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
- Designated state agency for Adult Protective Services
- Designated State Agency Unit on Aging
- State Ombudsman Program
- Active partner in New Mexico’s Aging Network
What we do
- Support aging in place-providing services in homes and communities
- Support caregivers
- Combat senior hunger
- Encourage healthy and productive aging
- Build and sustain capabilities to meet emerging needs and challenges
Leadership: Emily Kaltenbach
Emily Kaltenbach serves as the Cabinet Secretary Designate for the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department.
Kaltenbach brings more than two decades of leadership in public policy, health care reform, and advocacy, as well as a strong track-record of advancing services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and communities across New Mexico. Kaltenbach joined the administration in November 2024 and was unanimously confirmed by the New Mexico Senate on February 28, 2025.
Previously, Kaltenbach was senior director of state advocacy for the Drug Policy Alliance, where she led statewide efforts to shift policy focus from punitive measures to health-centered solutions. Her extensive background also includes leadership positions at ALTSD and in the New Mexico Office of Health Care Reform, where she contributed to significant policy reforms benefiting older adults and people of all ages with disabilities.
Kaltenbach holds a master’s in health care administration from the University of Washington and has served on multiple boards dedicated to public health, cannabis regulation, and community safety. Her leadership in health care reform and social justice issues makes her uniquely positioned to lead ALTSD as it navigates the challenges facing the state’s growing aging population.