UW-L student Krista Chipman recently spoke about how our elders need advocates to help them confront physical, emotional, and financial abuse. Krista has worked in two residential facilities and has seen first-hand that vulnerable elders may suffer carelessness in settings that are supposed to provide care.
To prepare her speech, Krista interviewed MMOC’s Sr. Kathy Stuttgen. Krista came away impressed that MMOC is ahead of the problem by supporting a paid position for someone advocating for the elderly.
Krista has shown a spotlight on the value of the work of Sr. Kathy. Let us be grateful for this woman who adds dignity to our community by her devoted service, kindliness to our community by her perceptiveness and assertiveness, and fun to our community by her humor. More of us should be more aware and appreciative of what Kathy has done for our elders.
UPDATE: Krista extended her own advocacy for the elderly into the community by writing a letter that appeared 19 Dec. in the La Crosse Tribune.
Mary, Mother of the Church 
[…] of the requirements of my course at UWL is that students get off-campus and interview an active member of the community. That’s scary for some, talking with a stranger, but they grow. So many vibrant good […]