What is Blue Zones Bound Live to 100 in New Mexico?
New Mexico is dedicated to being a leader in fostering a thriving environment for aging well. The BLUE ZONES™ framework guides us in the development of public and private sector initiatives to increase the well-being of communities, leading to greater stability, reduced healthcare costs and disparities, and increased resilience.
Living Better and Longer
New Mexico is Blue Zones Bound
New Mexico is Blue Zones Bound
In January, a celebration at the state capitol in Santa Fe put forward a vision to make New Mexico the first Blue Zones Bound state in the nation. The morning focused on wisdom, wellness, and transformation at the Blue Zones Bound Breakfast Conference featuring Dan Buettner, best-selling author and producer of the Netflix series "Live to 100," where he uncovers the keys to a longer, healthier, and happier life.
“The calculus of aging offers us two options: we can live a shorter life with more years of disability, or we can live the longest possible life with the fewest bad years. The choice is largely up to us.”
— Dan Buettner, BLUE ZONES™
Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico
A capacity crowd at the Blue Zones Bound breakfast conference in Santa Fe.
Dan Buettner & Melissa Sanchez, OIEA Division Director and Indian Affairs Liaison, Aging & Long Term Services Department
Jen Paul Schroer, Cabinet Secretary, Aging & Long Term Services Department
Sayuri Yamada, Chair & Jerry Jones, President & CEO of Anchorum Health Foundation
More than 300 seniors wore blue scarves in support of NM being Blue Zones Bound
Key Takeaways
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Michelle Lujan Grisham
GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO
A 12th-generation New Mexican, Michelle Lujan Grisham is currently serving as the 32nd governor of New Mexico and is the first Democratic Hispanic woman in U.S. history to be elected governor. Driven by a deep compassion for seniors and those living with disabilities, Lujan Grisham was appointed as the first ever Cabinet Secretary for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. She has carried that care and passion into her governorship prioritizing investments in health care infrastructure and innovative programming to improve access and quality of care for New Mexicans across the state.
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Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer, and New York Times bestselling author. He discovered the five places in the world – dubbed blue zones – where people live the longest, healthiest lives. Buettner’s work is now spread across the country in partnership with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects, which are wellbeing initiatives that apply lessons from the blue zones to entire communities by focusing on changes to the local environment, public policy, and social networks. The program has dramatically improved the health of more than 5 million Americans to date.
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Jen Paul Schroer
ALTSD CABINET SECRETARY
Jen Paul Schroer is currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary Designate for the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Most recently, she served as the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, which celebrated an all-time record year in spending during her tenure. While serving in the Lujan Grisham administration, Schroer has worked with several cross-agency teams, including the Department of Health’s “Better Together” marketing strategy, the Children, Youth, and Families Department transformation leadership team, and recruitment strategies for Public Education Department and Department of Health. Schroer was also appointed by President Biden to serve on the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Power 9™
Blue Zones Power 9: Lifestyle Habits of the World’s Healthiest, Longest-Lived People
1. Move Naturally
2. Purpose
3. Downshift
4. 80% Rule
5. Plant Slant
6. Wine @ 5
7. Belong
8. Love Ones First
9. Right Tribe
Seniors make their voices heard.
Over 300 New Mexicans participated in this year’s Senior Day at the State Capitol. Proudly wearing bright blue scarves, older adults, caregivers, partners, and providers gathered in the Rotunda to hear from the Cabinet Secretary and division directors. As they shared inspiration and information about many resources that are available to the citizen of New Mexico.
The senior advocates then circulated the Capitol, speaking with legislators in support of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, it’s fiscal year 2025 budget and capital outlay requests, and the valuable programs, services, and solutions it offers to people statewide.
Programs + Services
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NEW MEXICARE
The New MexiCare Caregiver Health Model is a program to provide financial assistance and training to caregivers assisting friends or family members with daily activities due to physical or cognitive limitations. The program aims to allow older adults to thrive in their homes and communities and reduce nursing home placements and emergency department visits.
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NEW MEXICO GROWN
Wellness is about the synergy of lives working together. As part of the Senior Nutrition Program network, NM ALTSD and NM Grown helps older adults in our community by promoting healthy eating, decreasing social isolation, and improving health. Our program also provides connections to home and community-based services that can support independence and overall well-being.
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OMBUDSMAN
Advocating for New Mexico’s older and disabled adults.
Residents, their families, friends, and caregivers entrust long-term care and nursing facilities to provide safe environments that meet standards of care and provide a quality of life. If ever they fall short, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman offers an avenue for expressing and resolving concerns.
Our advocates visit assisted living facilities and nursing homes on a regular basis, providing valuable services that help residents by:
• Advocating for rights
• Investigating complaints
• Exploring solutions
• Ensuring quality of care
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