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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Stewart

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-7-06

HB HJM 73

SHORT TITLE Senior Care Facility Diet and Nutrition Rules

SB

ANALYST Collard

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of House Joint Memorial 73

House Joint Memorial 73 requests testimony regarding dietary and nutrition standards for senior

residential care facilities be heard by an appropriate legislative committee and that the findings

and any recommendations of the committee be reported to the Legislative Council Services by

December 1, 2006.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no fiscal implications associated with this joint memorial.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HPC indicates the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) claims that, “(o)lder per-

sons face special obstacles in maintaining an optimal diet. As individuals age, their caloric needs

decline, but their need for nutrients does not. Therefore, older persons must consume foods that

are nutrient-rich.

http://www.aarp.org/research/assistance/lowincome/aresearch-import-771-FS19R.html

The intent of the joint memorial is to investigate if people living in New Mexico senior residen-

House Joint Memorial Bill 73 – Page

2

tial care facilities are receiving those nutrient-rich foods and to report those findings to the New

Mexico Legislature.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

HPC research indicates, according to the New York State Office for the Aging, “Many chronic

diseases that develop late in life, such as osteoporosis, can be influenced by earlier poor habits.

Insufficient exercise and calcium intake, especially during adolescence and early adulthood, can

significantly increase the risk of osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become brittle and

crack or break.

But good nutrition in the later years still can help lessen the effects of diseases prevalent among

older Americans or improve the quality of life in people who have such diseases. They include

osteoporosis, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, gastrointestinal prob-

lems, and chronic under nutrition.

Studies show that a good diet in later years helps both in reducing the risk of these diseases and

in managing the diseases' signs and symptoms. This contributes to a higher quality of life, ena-

bling older people to maintain their independence by continuing to perform basic daily activities,

such as bathing, dressing and eating.

Poor nutrition, on the other hand, can prolong recovery from illnesses, increase the costs and in-

cidence of institutionalization, and lead to a poorer quality of life.”

http://www.agingwell.state.ny.us/eatwell/growing.htm

It is presently not known if people living in New Mexico senior residential care facilities are re-

ceiving those proper diets.

According to the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department, “(s)enior centers’

meals programs play a vital role in improving participants’ nutritional status, particularly for

those with limited incomes and other nutritional risk factors.” The Department provides nutrition

information and services at senior centers, meal sites and in people’s homes.

http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/nutrition/nutrition-general.html

HPC also notes Senate Joint Memorial 40, in 2003, established the New Mexico Food and Agri-

culture Policy Council with the intention to strengthen all of New Mexican’s access to sufficient,

high-quality food. It is not known if the Food and Agriculture Policy Council has studied the is-

sues presented in this joint memorial.

KBC/mt