Joe Hanson receives Rising Star Award

Joe Hanson, Nurse Manager at Walker Methodist Care Suites, in Edina, Minn. was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Rising Star Award. 

The award recognizes a person who stands out in their recent efforts to transform and enhance the experience of aging. 

“Joe came to his nursing career in senior care after serving for four years in the military,” says Kari Thurlow, President and CEO, LeadingAge Minnesota. “This experience helps him bring focus and attention to detail to his current work. He is fiercely loyal to those in his care and is known for his superpower of listening intently to residents and their families at Walker Methodist Care Suites in Edina.”

Hanson meets with new residents when they move in to Care Suites and develops a care plan that will help anticipate their needs. He sifts through the many stories of the person’s transitions, illnesses, and pain. By helping with daily care tasks, he is able to tweak, modify, and adapt the care plan to provide even the smallest comforts to residents. He also spends time listening to the family’s concerns and reassuring them when developing these new relationships.

“Joe is one of those team members that will come in at the last minute, stay when the day is complicated, and calls to check on people he is worried about even on his days off,” said Amanda Pitsenbarger, Executive Director, Walker Methodist Care Suites in Edina. “He invests a lot of time assessing and knowing residents and their families. We care for older adults that other places can’t because of the complexity of their situations. He spends countless hours educating families on their loved ones’ conditions and what to expect as the resident’s needs change over time.”

Hanson accepted the award at the LeadingAge Minnesota Institute, the state’s largest and most comprehensive aging services conference. More than 3,000 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. 

For more information, watch the 2023 Rising Star Award video: https://youtu.be/IyCFZIp1-B8