WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – After years of limited access and prolonged closures, critical elder services are being restored and expanded across the Navajo Nation.
The reopening of senior centers and strengthened care systems now reaches more than 10,000 Navajo elders annually.
Under the leadership of Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, the Navajo Department of Health has worked to improve elder care through standardized food menus, activity calendars, and home-delivery checklists aligned with national standards.
“Our responsibility is to ensure our elders receive timely, quality care,” said President Nygren. “By strengthening local senior centers and expanding home-based services, we are keeping our elders close to their families, communities, and culture.”
He added that these efforts also build on the $184 million senior center legislation, which provides impactful matching fund opportunities in New Mexico and supports sites in Arizona that often do not receive federal funding.
These changes are part of a broader effort to strengthen consistency, accountability, and quality of care across all senior centers. As part of the systemwide improvements, all centers are scheduled to undergo evaluation by June 2026, with a comprehensive report to follow.
In response to urgent needs, NDOH has already reopened 23 senior centers, including Tohatchi, Nazlini, Jeddito, and St. Michaels, which recently completed a $6 million renovation.
Additional reopenings are planned for Coyote Canyon and Mexican Springs in the coming months, while the department works toward full operational status for all centers in 2026 and a 20 percent expansion of home-based elder services.
