Taking Care of Neighbors Throughout the Year

It's important to remember that lots of great people, full of energy and heart, are digging in and doing whatever it takes to care for our neighbors. Even in the face of uncertainty and what may feel like callous decisions, Santa Fe and New Mexico are finding ways to protect and care for vulnerable, isolated people. Coming Home Connection is part of this fabric, working collaboratively to maximize our resources and advance our vision of older adults being empowered to live their best lives, age in their place of choice, and be happy and healthy. Each of our five programs – Taking Care of Neighbors no-cost caregiving (“TCN”), Resource Navigation, The Loan Closet, Volunteer Companions and Traditional Caregiving – are part of our holistic approach to meeting the needs of older adults in Santa Fe. Here are some examples of our work in the community in 2025:

• One of our “Taking Care of Neighbors” clients has both Parkinson’s and a heart condition. He needs his beloved service dog with him throughout the day in the event his Parkinson’s causes him to freeze. Every few weeks, his TCN caregiver loads his dog into the back of her car, drives them both to his medical appointments, waits with them and gets them settled back at home. TCN provided no-cost caregiving to 45 older adults living alone
• A navigation client was discharged from the hospital with a rather bleak prognosis. The client was bed-ridden, living alone on the outskirts of town with no income, in need of wound-care and personal hygiene assistance. Our navigator enrolled him in our TCN program, got him mobility equipment, arranged for payment of his overdue utility bills and worked with him to get him social security benefits. This gentleman now has an income and gets regular TCN visits so that he is bathed and has clean clothes. His wounds are greatly improved, and he is able to get around his home and property. Resource navigation was provided to 120 clients
• A knee scooter borrowed from the loan closet allowed a teacher to make it to the classroom in person and earn her regular paycheck, enabling her stay in her home. And just this fall, a young man borrowed another knee scooter so that he, too, could be at school in person and not fall behind! Over 1,500 neighbors borrowed medical equipment and more than 3,000 pieces of equipment were loaned
• This summer, a crew of our volunteers helped a longtime client with serious yard work and ramp repair to keep him safely in his home. Volunteer companions work with 14 older adults
• One of our traditional caregivers was brought into a couple’s home to help with the husband’s final months, and has stayed on with the wife now that she needs a little extra support, adding caring, consistency and a sense of family to her days. More than 100 people received care for short-term, on-going or respite needs

Thank you for joining in our work!