As a Wisconsin state senator, lieutenant governor, and governor in the 1960s and 1970s, Martin J. Schreiber stood up for education, children, consumer protection, and the rights of workers and the elderly. Today he is a relentless advocate for Alzheimer’s disease caregivers, as well as a caregiver himself, for his wife, Elaine, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease more than a decade ago. Schreiber was a recent guest on Dementia Matters, a podcast that explores the latest headlines, science and caregiver issues surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
In the episode, “The Triumphs and Challenges of Being a Dementia Caregiver,” Schreiber shares his stories about caregiving and discusses the importance of accepting your loved one with dementia as a different person as their disease progresses.
“If you can let go of the person who once was and embrace the person who now is, we can better share with their heart and we can better share with their soul, some moments of joy that ordinarily wouldn't be there,” he says.
In 2017, Schreiber wrote My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver, which chronicles his relationship with his wife through her early diagnosis and into more recent years where she no longer recognizes him as her husband of nearly six decades. The book offers personal stories and lessons in caregiving.
Schreiber presents regularly on the topic of caregiving and Alzheimer’s disease awareness to healthcare and general public audience alike. He has collaborated on caregiving and dementia-friendly programing with a number of organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association and the state of Wisconsin.
Listen to “The Triumphs and Challenges of Being a Dementia Caregiver,” posted 11/6/2018 on Dementia Matters. Subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Spotify, Tune In, Google Play Music, and Podbean.
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