Washington Co., WI – On May 24, 2022, Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County will announce the winners of the Judy Phillips Memorial Influencer in Aging Award. The award honors Judy Phillips and her legacy of passionate work for senior citizens. It will recognize those in the community whose work demonstrates creative, impactful and strong advocacy for the senior citizens.
Deb Anderson, who has been making a difference in the quality of life for senior citizens, has been nominated in the Community Impact category.
“I’m just blown away by the nomination,” said Anderson.
For five years, Anderson was the senior activities director at the Senior Center. She was an integral part of “the big transition” when the facility moved from the Washington County Campus on Highway 33 to the former Pick n’ Save north location in the Lawrence & Vivian Stockhausen Center.
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“Sometimes I look over old pictures and I’m like, how did we do that,” said Anderson referencing the old facility. “It was really a very small place, and it only had two main rooms upstairs and downstairs and there were stairs and no elevator, but we made it work.”
Click HERE to read about nominee Jen Fechter
Using the senior citizen skillset, Anderson took their crafts of quilting and crocheting and with an injection of marketing turned it into a campaign. “We had fundraisers and were visible at Enchantment in the Park and at the Farmers’ Market and people kept coming up and saying ‘Where’s their senior center?’ Now we’ve been here already over 40 years.
“I like to just keep going,” said Anderson. “I tell people keeps me out of jail.”
With a wry sense of humor and a sharp understanding of human nature Anderson managed to breathe life into a misunderstood image. “People were not just coming to the senior center to nap,” she said.
“People have no idea what it’s about and when they get here and found it’s not political, it’s just community,” Anderson said.
Click HERE to read about Judy Phillips Award nominee Cedar Community
Anderson knew Judy Phillips when she worked for Home Instead Senior Care. The characteristics she sees is Judy just loved everybody.
Click HERE to read about Judy Phillips Award nominee Paula Hader
“She more than loved, she cared about what happened to people, not just to get them in the right place. But to make sure they had what they needed,” said Anderson. “She was very low key. She wasn’t pushy, she wasn’t judgmental. She was just a really warm, caring person.”
Click HERE to read about Judy Phillips Award nominees
Tammy Dickman and Mona Dickmann from ADRC
Anderson encourages people to get involved with your senior citizen parent and grandparents.
“My advice is there are a lot of people out there to take care of the nuts and bolts, they can change the oil, the diapers, the feed them to make meals, that type of thing,” said Anderson. “Don’t see your parent as a patient. Go and visit, get out their photo albums, spend time with them. Ask them stories about when they were kids, a lot of times they can’t remember what they had for breakfast, but they can tell you how hard it was to walk in February to school. Ask them to tell stories of what they did during the war? What kinds of things did you want to do when you graduated from high school? You know, they may not even remember, they might be just telling stories. But the stories are important, hearing that voice over and over because you’re never going to hear it again, once it’s gone. Those kinds of things are really important.”
Anderson said the scenario of leaving senior citizens behind seems to even be written into architectural plans for facilities where they spend their last days.
“Remember when Ivy Manor was coming in, and they were trying to get permits, and they were talking about how much parking space would be needed and they said, well, we don’t need a big parking space, because really the only time a parking lot would be full is Mother’s Day and Christmas,” said Anderson.
“So that’s the difference it makes,” she said. “Bring them home with you take or go to visit with them, have a meal with them. All those kinds of things make the difference. You may not change the senior’s life, but they’re going to change yours.”
Click HERE to read about nominees Dave and Lisa Morbeck
The Judy Phillips Memorial Influencers in Aging Award will be May 24, 2022, at the Maurin Center at Lac Lawrann, West Bend, WI.
Awards will be presented for Creative Expression, Community Impact, and Aging Advocacy.
