MEET DICK

Dick Edwards, retired Mayo Clinic Eldercare Specialist, has thirty-five years of experience working closely with older adults and their families. For the final twenty years of his career, he served as administrator of Charter House, a nationally recognized model for excellence in retirement living and long-term health care affiliated with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. At Charter House, Dick was known for his personal interest in staff, residents, and their families, and for his accessibility as they sought his support and counsel. At Mayo Clinic, Dick conducted early research on the question: Who does better at the business of growing older?

During his time as an Eldercare Specialist, Dick served in the leadership of the LeadingAge, an organization of six thousand not-for-profit providers of older adult services. He served on the board of directors, led the organization’s national quality initiative, Quality First, and was in involved in the early development of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST). For fourteen years, Dick served in the leadership of Aging Services of Minnesota (ASOM), a statewide association of not-for profit providers of services for older adults. His excellence in leadership has been honored by Mayo Clinic, AAHSA, and ASOM.

Prior to becoming an Eldercare Specialist, Mr. Edwards graduated from
Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife, Pat, have three adult children and six
grandchildren.