Perham Nurse Annette Riestenberg Wins LeadingAge Minnesota Caregiver of the Year Award

Annette Riestenberg walked into her retirement party at Perham Living expecting to say goodbye to colleagues. Instead, she learned she had won LeadingAge Minnesota's Caregiver of the Year, a statewide honor recognizing individuals whose compassion and dedication elevate the lives of seniors and their families.

"I didn't know I was in the running; it was a complete surprise," Riestenberg said. "I'm honored; deeply honored and rather humbled. I worked with many very talented caregivers over the years. And it just was very special that they would honor me with an award."

Riestenberg recently retired from her position as RN Care Coordinator at Perham Living, where she worked for 38 years. The award was also presented at the LeadingAge Minnesota annual conference, where she took the stage to a wave of applause before the recognition was even announced.

The nomination came from multiple directions: a family member of a Perham Living resident, colleagues including Sandy Frost, and Tracy Hendrickx, Perham Living's Chief Continuum Officer. Hendrickx, who formally submitted the nomination, described a caregiver whose commitment never clocked out.

"Annette has dedicated her career to Perham Living, where she has been serving and advocating for residents since 1987," Hendrickx said. "Her longevity alone is remarkable, but what truly sets her apart is her steadfast commitment to compassionate care. Annette consistently goes above and beyond, checking in on residents evenings, weekends, and holidays, simply to ensure their well-being. Her devotion is not bound by schedules or job descriptions; it is part of who she is."

The scale of the award ceremony underscored the statewide reach of the recognition. Someone accompanying Riestenberg to the event described walking into the hotel banquet room and being struck by its size. "It was huge. I said, how many chairs are in this room? They said about 3,500." Riestenberg had initially wondered whether the event might be a county-level recognition rather than a statewide one.

Riestenberg noted the honor carried additional weight because of the company she was among, with professionals from across the senior care industry being recognized across multiple categories at the same event.

The Caregiver of the Year recognition arrives at a moment of broader statewide attention on Perham's elder care community. On November 20, 2025, LeadingAge Minnesota announced that Perham Health's Elevate program had won the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Team Award, presented by the Minnesota Department of Health. Elevate, one of the original sites funded through the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation's Connected Communities initiative, was honored for its work helping older adults in rural Minnesota live with purpose, health, and joy.

For Perham Living, Riestenberg's award closes a 38-year chapter defined, in the words of those who worked alongside her, not by what the job required but by what she gave beyond it.