April 2026

LeadingAge Minnesota’s 2026 Caregiver of the Year

On April 14, 2026 by Barbara Landeen

For more than 35 years, LeadingAge Minnesota has celebrated excellence through the Stars Among Us Awards, with the Caregiver of the Year Award standing as the highest honor. The award recognizes caregivers whose compassion, skill, and dedication profoundly improve the lives of older adults, families, and communities.

To further honor these extraordinary professionals, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation established the Gayle Kvenvold Commitment to Caregivers Fund three years ago. Named for former CEO Gayle Kvenvold—whose own journey in aging services began as a CNA in Albert Lea—the fund provides a monetary gift to each Caregiver of the Year recipient in recognition of their exceptional commitment to care.

This year’s statewide Caregiver of the Year is Annette Riestenberg, RN, of Perham Living. For nearly 40 years, Annette has been known for pairing clinical excellence with deep compassion. She has a remarkable ability to see the whole person behind each diagnosis, honoring residents’ histories, identities, and dignity while supporting them through illness, cognitive decline, and the final stages of life.

Families often describe Annette as a steady, reassuring presence during some of their most difficult moments. Colleagues see her as a mentor and role model who leads by example, reminding those around her that great caregiving is rooted not only in skill, but in humanity.

Through the Foundation’s support, this award continues to recognize caregivers like Annette whose dedication leaves a lasting impact on the people and communities they serve.