Dan Johnson, president and CEO of Catholic Eldercare, is overseeing care initiatives and construction projects — including a new independent living complex — that have earned him top leadership honors from an industry association.
Johnson received the Kal Michels Outstanding Leadership Award earlier this year from LeadingAge Minnesota, an association of more than 1,000 organizations that serve nearly 70,000 Minnesota seniors.
Catholic Eldercare, a nonprofit based in northeast Minneapolis, offers transitional care, assisted living, adult day-care programs, skilled nursing care and memory care.
The latest addition is Wyndris, a 69-unit market-rate senior apartment project, which Johnson said will open this fall. Other recent projects include a 40,000-square-foot addition that houses transitional care and rehabilitation.
"We lacked an apartment community for those who are 62 and older who are independent but might need or want some services eventually," said Johnson, who also helped create an award-winning community engagement program for older adults.
Johnson joined Catholic Eldercare in 2009 from HealthPartners, where he worked in professional development and care improvement. He began his career as a physical therapist before working in teaching and administrative roles at St. Catherine University.
The award Johnson received from LeadingAge Minnesota recognizes "a leader in older adult services who has provided excellent leadership to their employees and organization, enhances the quality of life for residents in the community and provides exceptional community service."
Q: What differentiates Catholic Eldercare?
A: We will offer a full set of housing and service options that would allow older adults to live in community and to life fully their whole life and bring around them anything they might need to do that. We're contained in Northeast and we're downtown. If you have an issue or a need, you get access to whatever you need because we're all here.