What You Should Know as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver

Marty and Elaine

by Paul Wynn for Next Avenue

After 45 years of marriage to his high school sweetheart, Elaine, he was utterly unprepared for the most challenging role of his life – being a primary caregiver.

“I learned first-hand what it takes to be a loyal and selfless caregiver.”

After two years of steady decline in remembering people’s names, getting lost when driving to once familiar places and losing interest in long-held hobbies like reading, his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 at age 67.

Gradually, Elaine became increasingly dependent on her husband to drive her places, shop for food and prepare meals, clean the house and keep up with family and friends. After eight years of caring for her at their home, Schreiber decided that Elaine needed to live in a memory care facility outside of Milwaukee and receive professional care. She lived there peacefully until she passed away in 2022.

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