Elder Care presentation with guest speaker, former Wisconsin Gov. Martin Schreiber
UK Elder Care and the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging are partnering to bring you Dementia Caregivers Week
Former Wisconsin Gov. Martin J. Schreiber will be the special guest and will discuss his book “My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver.” We will be raffling off five autographed hardcover copies of Schreiber’s book to those who attend, generously donated by the Bluegrass Elder Abuse Prevention Council.
Schreiber provided care for his wife, Elaine, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for nearly 20 years. When Elaine moved to memory care, Gov. Schreiber authored a book and made hundreds of appearances nationwide, traveling to every corner of Wisconsin and over 28 states. He seeks to help other caregivers learn, cope and survive by sharing what he wished he had known.
In the book, Gov. Schreiber candidly counsels those taking on this caregiving role. More than an account of Marty’s struggles in caring for his wife, “My Two Elaines” also offers sage advice that respects the one with Alzheimer’s while maintaining the caregiver’s health. As two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s are women, he offers special guidance for men thrust into an unexpected job. With patience, adaptability, and even a sense of humor, Marty shows how love continues for his Second Elaine.
With seven printings and over 46,000 books in circulation, net proceeds from the sale of “My Two Elaines” are pledged to caregiver support programs. Caring.com has named the book among the Best Caregiving Books for two years in a row and BookAuthority.org named “My Two Elaines” one of the best Alzheimer’s Books of All Time.
Last year, Harper Horizon, a national publisher selected “My Two Elaines” to update, and re-release in hardcover and electronically. The most recent version includes current statistics and a Question and Answer with an award-winning neuropsychologist.
Prior to writing “My Two Elaines” — and while still caring for his wife at home — Marty helped the Alzheimer’s Association launch Operation: Stronger Together in 2015. This multi-year awareness program has helped the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter connect record numbers of families to education and resources that are vital to successful caregiving. He also collaborated with Wisconsin state government and various business groups to help create the online Dementia-Friendly Employers Toolkit, which is now used by human resources departments and employee assistance programs. These initiatives have led to Marty being recognized with awards from the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations.
Schreiber’s work on behalf of older citizens goes back decades to his 16 years in public service as a state senator, lieutenant governor and governor focusing on elderly concerns, improved quality of nursing home care, and development of the in-home Community Care Organization. He went on to become a successful insurance executive and publisher before starting his own government relations firm in 1988.
He attended Valparaiso University in Indiana and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and earned a doctorate of law from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
Marty and his wife Elaine, who died in 2022, are the parents of four children, Kathryn Lyon, Martin Schreiber, Kristine Haas and Matt Schreiber. They have thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Five autographed hardcovered books, which were generously donated by the Bluegrass Elder Abuse Prevention Council , will be given away in a random drawing those who attend the presentation.