Assisted living in New Mexico offers seniors a supportive, maintenance-free lifestyle as they age. Located throughout the Land of Enchantment, these communities provide assistance with activities of daily living, nutritious meals, and a variety of amenities. The average cost of assisted living in New Mexico is about $4,300 a month or $51,600 annually, according to A Place for Mom’s most recent proprietary data.[01] At this price point, assisted living in New Mexico costs nearly $900 less per month than the national average, making it less expensive than many states in the U.S.
My mother in law has been happy at Brookdale. They have lots of activities, something for everyone. She is getting her meals and meds on time, and the staff seem to really care. The center courtyard is...
The classes are vital to me. I wish more people would take part. Food is ok. Sometimes tasty but it repeats itself far too often. New recipes like the walnut shrimp are welcome. Today oddly people at the...
My parents resided at Morada Quintessence for several years. They were always well cared for, and both made lots of friends. After dad passed away, the staff made sure that mom stayed active. The care team...
Prior to moving to Albuquerque Grand I walked or relied on public transportation to get around. As I got older it became more difficult for me to get to the store or laundry mat. Since moving to Albuquerque...
The staff is friendly and works to become more like family than just a care taker. Facility was kept clean for the most part. However, if your love ones are bit on the social side and still mobile,...
I moved my mother into Palmilla Senior living facility in assisted-living with a level 1 care and medication management in June 2024. She was previously in an independent living facility out of state with a...
The classes are vital to me. I wish more people would take part. Food is ok. Sometimes tasty but it repeats itself far too often. New recipes like the walnut shrimp are welcome. Today oddly people at the...
The meals at the Neighborhood are tasty and varied. Between the dining room and the Bistro, there is always something which is appealing. I would like to give a shout out to the wait staff. They are...
From the moment of first contact, [name removed] was absolutely amazing in sending me everything that I needed. Following up most appropriately. And providing other suggested resources to help. She...
Staff members are patient and friendly with my mom. She is not left alone (trapped) in bed for long during the day when she is awake. She eats meals with her peers in a dining room. Mom seems happy. I highly...
My mom was a resident of the memory care unit, the staff was friendly, and caring, with the residents. [New resident] the director was extremely knowledgeable, and personable. The meals they prepared were...
The staff is good, but there is a bit of a lack of communication. Security is good for keeping patients safe and not roaming around outside. The move in process was easy, and the facility was clean. I would...
My mother in law has been happy at Brookdale. They have lots of activities, something for everyone. She is getting her meals and meds on time, and the staff seem to really care. The center courtyard is...
Very happy with the care that has been given to my father. The staff is amazing and they have made him the most happiest and healthy he has ever been. I could not be more happier to have him at the Legacy....
The facility is very well done and the little one bedroom apartment my aunt and uncle are in is very nice and spacious enough for both wheelchairs. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the activities as they...
The average monthly cost of assisted living in New Mexico is approximately $4,300, which is significantly less expensive than the national average monthly cost of assisted living, around $5,100 a month. These numbers reflect the average final monthly costs paid by families living in A Place for Mom’s network of partner communities.
Costs in New Mexico typically range from around $3,100 to just under $6,000 a month.[01] Communities in large metropolitan areas, like Albuquerque, or luxury locales, like Taos, generally cost more than facilities in smaller or more rural locations. Other factors, like the floorplan your loved one chooses, the amount of support they need, and the services and amenities a community provides can also affect pricing.
In New Mexico, an assisted living facility can have a minimum of only two residents and may be in either a designated building or in a converted residential home. Smaller personal care homes often cost less than larger assisted living facilities.
The monthly cost figures provided by A Place for Mom’s New Mexico partner communities generally cover a senior’s complete care needs, including:
Medicare, Medicaid, and other public pay resources may offset some costs of medical care in assisted living for New Mexico seniors who qualify.
Average monthly costs
New Mexico
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Your family has its own unique budget and needs, but no matter your financial situation, planning ahead for assisted living can help ensure your loved one has access to all available resources. If your aging relative hasn’t signed up for Medicare, or if they plan to apply for public assistance programs, they may encounter application or waiting periods, so the sooner you start to consider your options, the better.
You’ll find a variety of ways seniors can cover assisted living costs in New Mexico below. For a high-level review of payment resources for seniors, you can read through ourcomplete guide to paying for long-term care.
Private pay options include financial assistance from family members, pensions, personal savings, and retirement accounts. These funds generally cover the majority of assisted living costs. Learn more about some ways to secure private pay resources below.
If your aging relative or their spouse served in the military, they may be eligible for a variety of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits that can help pay for assisted living in New Mexico. Understanding these benefits can be complex and time-consuming, so New Mexico has established resources to help ensure your loved one has access to the benefits and funds they deserve.
The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services offers a number of benefits. Their website is a great place to begin your search for information and resources.
Your family can also reach out to a local field office for further assistance. Each field office is managed by a veterans service officer who’s trained to counsel other veterans about benefits, applications, and more. Additionally, state chapters of national organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion can provide veterans with information, support, and advocacy services.
Medicaid — also called Centennial Care in New Mexico — is a health care program jointly funded by the state and federal governments. It’s designed to help low-income individuals and people with disabilities.
Centennial Care can help lower-income New Mexico seniors secure funding to help pay for assisted living through their Community Benefit program. This home and community based services waiver is designed to help seniors who would otherwise require institutional care to age safely in their home or in an assisted living facility. A designated care coordinator will work with your loved one to determine how much funding they could receive based on their personal and health care needs.
Here are some additional facts about the Community Benefit program:[02]
Medicaid-eligible seniors in New Mexico can also explore the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE. New Mexico’s PACE program is alternately known as InnovAge New Mexico PACE. The program provides long-term care services and support to participants at home, in senior centers, or in assisted living facilities. Medical staff, contracted specialists, and doctors who work with PACE administer this care. To be eligible, seniors must require a Nursing Facility Level of Support but remain living in their current residence, which can include assisted living communities.
Medicare is a health insurance program available to all U.S. seniors aged 65 or older. It’s funded by the federal government, and can help cover some medical costs in assisted living communities. These services may include assistance with medication management, diabetes care, physical or occupational therapy, and certain approved medical supplies or mobility devices. Medicare doesn’t cover room and board in New Mexico assisted living.
The New Mexico Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) manages the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased health insurance information, assistance, and benefits counseling to seniors and their families. Reach out to one of their trained counselors to learn more about applying for benefits.
Income-qualifying seniors may get help paying for Medicare deductibles and premiums through a Medicare Savings Program. Your family may also be able to use Medicaid to help cover your Medicare premiums through dual enrollment.
For additional resources and information about Medicare and Medicaid in New Mexico, families can contact the following organizations:
Assisted living facilities in New Mexico are designed to provide support and stimulation to older adults who need help with at least one activity of daily living. Each community must house at least two residents unrelated to the owner, provide three nutritious meals a day, and be able to support the care needs of admitted residents.
The New Mexico Department of Health, Division of Health Improvement, Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau, licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. Communities must be inspected annually.[03]
The following considerations are made when licensing and regulating assisted living in New Mexico:
Staffing requirements may vary by the size of facility, care provided, and number of residents present.
The following roles must be filled in each community:
Staff-to-resident ratios must fulfill these requirements:
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of New Mexico is basic. Key findings that informed this rating include:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Human Services Department. Centennial Care overview.
New Mexico Administrative Code. (2010, January 15). Title 7, Chapter 8, Part 2: Assisted Living Facilities for Adults.
Overview of assisted living in NM
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
Please enter a valid email address.