Meet the 2019 Spirit of Advocacy Recipients

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Advocate: To change “what is” into “what should be.” LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to present this year’s Spirit of Advocacy recipients – Deb Barnes, Lakeview Methodist Care Center in Fairmont, Kim Wraalstad, North Shore Health in Grand Marais; and Knute Nelson in Alexandria. 

The Spirit of Advocacy award is given to an individual or organization who makes outstanding contributions to advocacy on behalf of aging Minnesotans and the people who provide them with care in long-term care and senior living settings.

Deb Barnes, Administrator, Lakeview Methodist Care Center in Fairmont

Deb Barnes is a long-term advocate for senior care services who has built strong connections with elected officials at the federal, state and local level. She is a member of the LeadingAge MN Public Policy Committee, participates in an Annual Day at the Capitol, and fosters connections to ensure that long-term care is viewed as an integral community asset. Deb is regularly called to testify at the State Capitol on issues that matter to seniors and professional caregivers.

“Deb Barnes is one of the strongest advocates in the field of older adult services and her voice has made a positive difference on behalf of Minnesota’s seniors and their caregivers,” said Nancy Stratman, Chair of the LeadingAge MN Board of Directors. “Deb is a trusted resource for lawmakers who seek clarity regarding policies that may affect senior care providers and the people who live and work in nursing homes, assisted living and memory care.”

Kimber Wraalstad, Administrator, North Shore Health in Grand Marais

Kimber is a committed advocate for senior care services who has built strong connections that have made long-term care a core community asset. She has strong relationships with state and local elected officials as well as key stakeholders in the community of Grand Marais. She is a member of the LeadingAge Minnesota Public Policy Committee, the Care Center Regulatory Committee and was elected to the LeadingAge MN Board of Directors last week. Kimber is a key contributor to public policies that support a sustainable Value-Based Payment Model for care centers and create career pathways to help recruit and retain people to the profession of long-term care.

“Kimber Wraalstad is a tireless and unrelenting in her advocacy to better educate policymakers, the organization’s Board of Directors and her community at large,” said Nancy Stratman, Chair of the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. “Kimber is always the first to take action and then ask, ‘what else can I do’ to help advance awareness of steps that need to be taken to ensure seniors have access to safe, quality care across Minnesota today and in the future.”

Knute Nelson – Alexandria

Recognizing the need to elevate awareness of the state’s role in meeting the evolving needs of the elderly and supporting the dedicated caregivers who provide safe, quality care, Knute Nelson has embedded advocacy within its organization’s culture. The organization hosts legislative forums and community events, engages community stakeholders, participates in an annual Day at the Capitol in Saint Paul and Washington, D.C., and regularly shares a first-hand perspective of what it means to live and work in long-term care settings through the voices of residents and staff. Through these efforts and more, Knute Nelson is making an impact on the future of long-term care in Minnesota.

“Knute Nelson ensures that staff, residents, families and volunteers all have the opportunity to build stronger connections with elected officials and policy leaders,” said Nancy Stratman, Chair of the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. “Through their voices, Knute Nelson is creating a stronger understanding of how laws enacted in Saint Paul affect not just long-term care providers but the people who live and work in these settings and the broader community as a whole.”