More than two years ago former Wisconsin Governor, Martin J. Schreiber, began a campaign unlike anything he experienced while in office. Rather than seeking votes, Schreiber now works to recognize and support Alzheimer’s caregivers – an unpaid workforce that now exceeds 16 million people nationwide. Schreiber’s goal for caregivers (whom he calls heroes) is that they learn, cope, survive and even thrive during their difficult journey.
Schreiber speaks about Alzheimer’s caregiving because he’s been there. The love story of Marty and his wife Elaine that began in the 1950s when they were high school freshmen began to take the cruelest of twists some 14 years ago. Wracked by Alzheimer’s — but with Marty always at her side — Elaine has been transformed from the gracious former First Lady of Wisconsin into someone who now depends on family and professional help for all of her basic daily care. Yet, Marty and Elaine still find moments of joy through activities such as music and simply holding hands. He lovingly tells their story in the acclaimed My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver.
Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and nearly 14 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $290 billion in 2018, increasing to $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
Gov. Schreiber is the closing keynote speaker for the 2019 Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference hosted by SDAHO on April 24-25 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, SD. This conference brings together post-acute care providers in nursing homes, home health, hospice and assisted living across South Dakota for education, networking and a collaborative conversation on how we can all work together to better serve the aging population in our state.
For more information on the conference or to register for the conference, go to: https://sdaho.org/post-acute-partners-in-care-conference-2019/.
Former Governor of Wisconsin, Martin J. Schreiber, to Speak at the SDAHO Post-Acute Care Conference
