Judy has always had a vivid imagination. Characters, poems, and story ideas filled her notebooks, waiting for the right moment to take shape. When she told Natalie and Zoe—two occupational therapy students from the University of Minnesota completing their rotations at Wilder’s Customized Living community—that she had always dreamed of writing a children’s book, they leaned in right away.
Wilder’s Customized Living services provide older adults with the right level of support to maintain independence, comfort, and connection, whether that means assistance with daily routines, access to health and wellness care, or opportunities for meaningful engagement. For residents like Judy, that balance of independence and support creates space to explore passions and discover new purpose.
Together, they built a plan. The students helped Judy take her big dream and break it into small, doable steps—setting aside time to write, finding new ways to sketch comfortably, and organizing her pages into something that looked and felt like a real book.
Her first story was inspired by a neighbor’s cat. With a little encouragement, Judy began writing in short bursts, weaving in poems and drawings. Soon, her natural creativity filled the pages. Not long after, she dreamed up Ahoy, Skipper Beware!, an adventurous tale about three ghostly brothers and a mysterious ship. Judy even designed her own cover art.
Natalie and Zoe celebrated every milestone alongside her—cheering when she finished a draft, helping her gather materials, and preparing for the moment when her stories would no longer live just in her notebook. “We broke things down into smaller steps, and she just ran with it,” Zoe shared. Within months, Judy carried a binder full of outlines, sketches, and titles for future books.
The real turning point came when Judy shared her work aloud. With support from the students, she hosted a book reading and signing for her neighbors. Residents gathered in the community space as she read her stories, signed copies, and answered questions about her characters.
The room buzzed with warmth and excitement. Neighbors laughed at her funny lines, applauded her creativity, and proudly took copies of her book.
“It felt good that I accomplished something—something I never thought I’d ever do,” Judy said. “And people really enjoyed it.”
For Natalie and Zoe, it was clear that Judy had always had the spark. “She already had the ideas and the drive,” Natalie reflected. “All she needed was support and a space to share it.”
That evening became more than a book signing—it was a community celebration. Judy’s creativity connected her with others in new ways. Residents still talk about her stories months later, and Judy continues to show up with fresh sketches and ideas, eager to share her progress.
“It was a very heartwarming event,” Zoe said. “You could see how proud she was, and how proud everyone else was of her; to see her grow and her confidence grow.”
Today, Judy is both an author and a neighbor whose stories spark conversation and joy. She knows the path forward is about taking one step at a time.
“Start with small goals,” she advises. “Then reach your potential and go for it.”
For Judy, writing has always been about imagination. With a little encouragement and a lot of community, that imagination has become something more: a bridge to connection, a way to share her voice, and a reminder that creativity doesn’t have an age limit.
