When "I Do" Means Caring Through Illness: A Story of Devotion
Manage episode 399481621 series 3430082
Marty Schreiber has dedicated his life to advocating for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. As the former governor of Wisconsin and author of the acclaimed memoir "My Two Elaine's", Marty draws from his own deeply personal experience as a caregiver for his wife of 61 years, Elaine. For eight years, Marty cared for Elaine in their home as her Alzheimer's progressed, but he now admits he was unprepared for the physical and emotional toll it would take. Marty candidly shares his struggles, from trying to keep Elaine in his world to nearly working himself to exhaustion. He also opens up about difficult decisions like placing Elaine in assisted living and the guilt he still feels over not supporting his children through the process. However, Marty channels his regrets into wisdom, urging caregivers to accept help, join their loved one's reality, and focus on living fully themselves to best support their person.
Through humor, heartache, and hard-won insight, he offers invaluable insights aimed at aiding fellow caregivers to embrace support, understand the dual realities of their loved ones, and nurture their own well-being for more effective care.
About Marty:
Former Wisconsin Gov. Martin J. Schreiber is an award-winning crusader for Alzheimer’s caregivers and persons with dementia. Reaching audiences nationwide at live events and through various forms of media, Marty uses humor and compassion as he shares lessons from his ongoing, decade-plus journey as a caregiver.
His speaking tour takes him to conferences, civic organizations, senior communities, libraries, and more around the country. He has given more than 300 presentations since launching his awareness campaign in late 2016. Whether in Texas, Idaho, New York, Missouri, Florida, Ohio, or closer to home, caregivers tell Marty that his message encourages them and hope that they can manage their challenging situation.
Marty’s book, My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver, is winning acclaim from caregivers across the country. It was rated as the No. 11 “Best Alzheimer’s Book of All Time” by bookauthority.org and was named to Caring.com’s list of “Best Caregiving Books” of both 2017 and 2018.
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
159 episodes