Judy Karofsky

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courtesy New Village Press

A close-up of Judy Karofsky.

Judy Karofsky

Anyone who has accompanied an elderly person on the end of life journey knows how hard it is, not just emotionally but practically. There are challenges and roadblocks at pretty much every turn. Former mayor of Middleton Judy Karofsky has written a compelling story of her own experiences with her mom — it’s called DisElderly Conduct and the subtitle is telling: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice. Karofsky will discuss the book at this launch event. Sadly, the growing need to reform senior care is unlikely to be addressed by the current federal administration.

media release: Join us for the Book Launch of DISELDERLY CONDUCT: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice by Judy Karofsky, a former mayor of Middleton and housing expert.

https://diselderlyconduct.com/

New Village Press is thrilled to announce the publication of DisElderly Conduct by long-time public servant Judy Karofsky. Karofsky's memoir and call to action is a personal account of the unmet needs of America's aging population which aims to spark discussion about new approaches for family decision makers. There are 30 thousand assisted living facilities in the US, but most are unaffordable for middle class Americans and fraught with staffing deficiencies and mismanagement. Karofsky's experience moving her mother from an age-restricted community in Florida to independent living in Wisconsin to assisted living will interest anyone who knows the struggle of finding long-term affordable care.

DisElderly Conduct chronicles both hospice care and assisted living, investigates Medicare spending, and culminates in a poignant meditation on dying of old age. Karofsky strikes an effective balance between the personal, political, and cultural aspects of aging, dedicating her final chapter to a discussion of COVID-19's devastating impact on long-term care patients.



Praise for DisElderly Conduct

"A compelling narrative that passionately cries out for a better way to safeguard our most vulnerable. We learn the “better way” is significantly hindered when the profit motive is the driving force. DisElderly Conduct shows in a most powerful way the need for national reform of care for the elderly."  

— Martin Schreiber, Former Governor, State of Wisconsin, and author, My Two Elaines

"Judy Karofsky provides a portrait of the elder care system in the United States that is both intricate and intimate. By sharing the story of her mother’s end of life, Karofsky helps readers navigate the complexities faced by children trying to help parents in their final years of assisted living and hospice. Karofsky’s search for comfort and dignity for her mother is often hampered by an industry that is frequently unresponsive and poorly regulated. This is a book that asks: ‘Why can’t we do better?'"  

— Norman Stockwell, Publisher, The Progressive 

Judy Karofsky served as one of Wisconsin’s first women mayors (Middleton) and established a now-thriving senior center and emergency medical services. She has served on executive staff of a governor, held multiple roles in housing and economic development, and led her own research firm. Judy also worked for a statewide women's network and for a coalition of state aging groups. As a member of nonprofit and municipal boards, she participates in policy discussions and comments publicly on demographic trends and urban growth.

Judy has authored numerous op-eds, articles, and papers on affordable housing, historic preservation, regional growth, and institutional investing in senior housing. In her role with the Wisconsin Elder Economic Security Initiative, she led discussions with labor union retirees. Judy holds an AB cum laude from Bryn Mawr College (economics) and master’s degrees at Brandeis University (American history) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (business). She’s taught both corporate and personal finance.