Danielle Cross Named District Caregiver of the Year

Danielle Cross, the director of life enrichment at Walker Methodist Westwood Ridge in West St. Paul, was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the District G Caregiver of the Year Award.

The District Caregiver of the Year Award honors individuals in older adult services who demonstrate exceptional commitment to older adults and enhance, and enrich the quality of life of those in their care. Danielle was one of seven caregivers selected for the regional award out of a field of 50,000 professional caregivers throughout the state.

Danielle puts in countless hours making the residents feel connected to each other and the community as a whole, especially during COVID-19.

“She helped each and every resident feel a little less isolated,” said Catherine Bergler, director of housing at Walker Methodist Westwood Ridge. “She is also always the first person to come up with creative ways to make team members feel appreciated and seen.”

Danielle accepted the award at the LeadingAge Minnesota Institute, the state’s largest and most comprehensive aging services conference. Nearly 4,000 professionals in all aspects of older adult services attend the annual three-day event to learn about new and innovative programs, share best practices, and network with their peers.