Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and systems for seniors appear to be recovering in early 2023 in Eddy County, government officials said.
Visits to the Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center, formerly the San Jose Senior Center, increased from more than 42,000 more people in 2020 to more than 29,000 more people in 2022, according to data from Carlsbad City Department departments.
New Mexico State COVID-19 fitness mandates affected seniors and other government purposes about 3 years ago.
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The City of Carlsbad occupied the San Jose Senior Center for approximately 40 years before moving in the summer of 2022 to the new Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center.
“We all lost smart COVID friends. In addition, senior centers were closed for a long time, which meant that many of our seniors did not see their friends regularly. We have seniors who are still reluctant to faint in public,” Carlsbad said. Mayor Dale Janway.
Carlsbad is not alone in the activities of seniors affected by COVID-19. Caryle Goss, manager of the City of Artesia Commission on Aging, said visitors to the Artesia Senior Center have increased from more than 7,000 people in the summer of 2019 to about 1,400 in spring 2021.
She visits highest from over 2,287 in the fall and winter of 2021 to over 2,800 in the spring and summer of 2022.
Before COVID-19, Goss Artesia seniors played bridge, danced in a row, and participated in arts and crafts.
After the pandemic, he said older people exercised more and played pool.
Goss said the Artesia Senior Center is an intermediary between the elderly and Artesia churches, as the network’s senior citizens are looking for must-have items for COVID-19.
“During COVID (-19), we call the seniors every week and call them to make sure they were okay,” he said.
“Before COVID (-19), there were a lot of other people here. We drive two vans every day to the (senior) meal site,” Goss added. Now we send 4-6 more people a day to the Food Site. “
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Southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation (SNMCC) meals are served at the Artesia Senior Dining Site, which is a separate facility from the Artesia Senior Center.
The Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center in Carlsbad serves SNMCAC food and organizes activities for seniors.
The center’s senior director, Amparo Vasquez, said there has been a backlog of attendance after COVID-19 closures ended.
“Our COVID-19 strategy was to do everything we could to communicate, whether it’s about the pandemic and all the other topics. In fact, we started making daily updates on the pandemic to make sure we stay in touch with our citizens,” Janway said.
He said the city is providing other projects for the elderly, adding sending personalized cards to those who couldn’t pass out.
“Our senior centers have worked to offer games and activities for seniors to do at home,” Janway said.
“Participation in our senior centers is being rebuilt very quickly and we are convinced that it is being more powerful than ever,” he added.
The middle one is the former Pate Elementary School and was donated about five years ago to the city of Carlsbad through Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS).
The City of Carlsbad secured $1. 3 million in local budget and block network progression (CDBG) grants from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (NMDFA) for phase one work, said Angie Barrios-Testa, director of municipal and capital programs.
Work on the first phase included initial renovations to the kitchen, offices and activity rooms to prepare the facilities for last summer’s move.
It estimated the investment for Phase Two paintings at $1. 68 million with investment from the City of Carlsbad and the City of Carlsbad and the New Mexico Department of Aging and Long-Term Services (ALTSD) for roof improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking improvements. and expansions.
“Roof innovations are expected to begin in April 2023, and expansion and innovations in the ADA and parking are scheduled to begin later in February or March 2023,” Barrios-Testa said.
She said 3 paintings are estimated at $1. 53 million pending a grant agreement with ALTSD.
“This phase will renovate more activity rooms, upgrade restrooms and initiate recreational innovations in facilities,” Barrios-Testa said.
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“The activity rooms at the new center are a little bigger, allowing for more area for programs,” Vasquez said. “The old location is also starting to suffer very serious wear and tear. “
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or via email at MSmith@currentargus. com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.