February 6, 2017 — Lifespark CEO/Founder Joel Theisen, RN, has been appointed to LeadingAge Minnesota’s Board as Director At Large. According to Theisen, this appointment demonstrates Lifespark’s credibility and reputation for innovation in the marketplace as a proven whole person senior care company.
As the state’s largest association of organizations serving older adults, LeadingAge Minnesota is driven to transform and enhance the experience of aging. Theisen stressed that serving on LeadingAge Minnesota’s Board is a tremendous honor because of the size and depth of LeadingAge Minnesota’s membership and their ability to support the needs of more than 63,000 older adults in the state of Minnesota.
“I’m honored to work with LeadingAge Minnesota’s thought-leaders from across the state to collectively change the experience for seniors and how we view aging in this country,” added Theisen. “There is tremendous opportunity to create better systems of care that put the person back in the center so we can serve the growing senior population.” Mark Anderson, Chair of the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors added, “Joel will bring both his spirit of innovation and Lifespark’s deep understanding of home-based care to our Board’s work.”
Theisen noted that Lifespark is making significant strides in achieving triple aim for seniors – improving individual experience, improving health of the senior population, and reducing cost of healthcare. “At Lifespark our whole person senior care model is proven to reduce hospitalization by 73% and emergency room visits by 52%,” said Theisen. “What’s more impressive to me though is our ability to spark lives – that is the often overlooked piece missing in most of today’s healthcare system and the one that creates the greatest improvement in results.”
The LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of the organization, providing strategic direction, fiduciary oversight, and solutions to address the most pressing needs of the Association’s members and their teams to best serve the needs of older adults today and in the future. The Board’s priorities in the year ahead will focus on new and emerging service delivery models, workforce development, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and performance excellence.
“I’m ready to get started and contribute to conversations, collaborations, and policies that transform and enhance the aging experience,” said Theisen.