The Navajo Nation has recently appointed Marlinda Littleman as the new health services administrator for the Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Support (DALTCS), a move lauded by President Buu Nygren. Addressing the ever-evolving needs of the Diné elderly population, Littleman is set to implement changes to accommodate a generation that is "getting younger," as per her statement given in a recent interview sourced from the official Navajo Nation Presidential website.
With some 60,000 Diné elderly residing within the Navajo Nation, and Littleman's background in governmental operations and fiscal management, President Buu Nygren expressed his confidence in her capacity to spearhead the division. Having been leaderless for the past year and a half, DALTCS operates a budget of $18 million to serve about 10% of these elders. Littleman's experience was key in her selection by Kim Russell, the executive director for the Navajo Nation Department of Health, who recruited her for the role that commenced on July 1, according to the official press release.
Ms. Littleman, who brings a track record of prior service as deputy director at the Navajo Nation Division of Social People, is tasked with the responsibility of fulfilling the needs outlined in the federal Older Americans Act. This includes providing nutrition services, aiding with transportation, and supporting family caregiving, as well as ombudsman services. As stated in the interview by President Buu Nygren, the elderly population, who deserve timely services after lifetimes spent nurturing their families and communities, is a focal point for the administration. Littleman herself is gearing up to tackle this through various initiatives, stating that "It’s our mission to get prompt services to our precious grandmas and grandpas."
DALTCS, while navigating through its previous period of lacking a dedicated leader, is expected to experience significant change under Littleman’s guidance. Addressing a tech-savvy elderly population that often is unaware of the assistance available for vision care, hearing aids, and other critical services, Ms. Littleman is aiming to leverage technology to better serve their needs. Besides delivering nutritional foods at senior centers, she plans to focus on recruitment drives and health promotion — a commitment that was noted during her interview with the Navajo Nation Presidential Office. Her educational background, which includes an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Business Administration Bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University, complements her comprehensive understanding of the Navajo Nation's administrative and social service frameworks.
As the administrator of DALTCS, Littleman stands on the precipice of ameliorating the lives of the Diné elders—her people—a commitment that comes not just from a place of duty but of cultural respect and recognition of the sovereign tapestry that holds the Navajo Nation together.
