Former WI governor, Marty Schreiber, talks about his book "My Two Elaines." It's a combination love story and guide for Alzheimer's caregivers. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The disease claims about 3,000 lives per year in Wisconsin.
It’s a diagnosis that not only takes a toll on the patient, but their caregiver too.
“I contend if Alzheimer’s is bad, ignorance of the disease is worse,” said former Wisconsin Gov. Marty Schreiber, who understands the disease all too well.
His wife of 60 years, Elaine, lived with Alzheimer’s for about 20 years. Schreiber spent more than a decade being her primary caregiver until moving her into a memory care facility for eight years.
Elaine Schreiber died in April 2022.
“There are two patients when there is an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the person that is ill and also the caregiver. A caregiver has a 40% chance of dying before their loved one, due to stress related illness. Has a 60% chance of dying before non-caregivers,” said Schreiber.
An advocate for Alzheimer’s caregivers, Schreiber wrote about his and Elaine’s journey in his book, “My Two Elaines.”
It’s both their love story and a caregiver’s guide, with emphasis on moving into your loved one’s new world with therapeutic fibbing versus always correcting.
He said, “I try and help caregivers understand how important it is to join the world of the person who now is, but also letting them know I understand how important it is to let go of the person who once was.”
Rennes Group, which includes assisted living, memory care, rehab and skill nursing services says it’s seeing an increase in need for memory care.
The former governor was invited to its De Pere facility to share his experience and wisdom of loving someone with Alzheimer’s.
“We can talk about it until we’re blue in the face but honestly having him go through the process and know the process and be a part of that really is important to us. Having him hear to explain it I think gave people a little bit more of a light in how Alzheimer’s really effects family and friends and anybody involved in the care,” said Jason Arendt of Rennes Group.
It was a message that hit home for many in the audience.
Theresa Nolet of De Pere lost her husband to Alzheimer’s last year. She said, “It’s a difficult thing to go through, not only for the Alzheimer’s patient themselves, but for the caregiver, just as he said. It took years off of my life.”
“Hearing him talk about the struggles, we’re not alone, that those struggles are real. You can crash and burn, you can regroup, retry, just making sure that both my parents are able to live their best life and that’s really a hard, hard balance to find,” added Jody Giordana of Kaukauna.
But one Schreiber says any caregiver needs to find for their own and their loves ones good.
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