Martin J. Schreiber - My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimers Caregiver

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Praise for My Two Elaines and Marty Schreiber

Best Caregiver Books

Caring.com

100 Best Alzheimers Books of All Time

BookAuthority

#2 Senior Social Media Influencers You Should Follow, 2018

Lively

Headliner Award, 2019

Milwaukee Press Club

Caregiver of the Week, August 2017

The Womens Alzheimers Movement

Special Service Award, 2016

Alzheimers Association

City of Milwaukee Superhero, 2016

Milwaukee Press Club

If you or someone you know is a caregiver, this is a must-read. Your loved one really does become a different person. As I learned from my moms dementia, learning how to deal with her was key to everyones sanity. There are many helpful hints here.

B ONNIE B LAIR , five-time Olympic gold medalist

At one moment this book is a heart-wrenching account of the devastating toll of Alzheimers, and the next moment it is a heart-wrenching love story. The minute you are holding your breath at the brutality of the disease, Marty rescues you with a concrete, doable message that can lead to lovely moments of joy. No health-care professional, family member, or caregiver should be without it.

D AWN A DLER , director, Ovation Adult Day Services, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, coauthor of Illuminate: An Integrated Curriculum for Early Memory Loss Programs

Marty shares his personal story with dignity and grace. My Two Elaines helps the caregiver realize you must take care of yourself, have a sense of humor, and take advantage of help to survive the stressful days ahead. It is a great resource for families.

L INDA C ODY , director, Village Walk Senior Living, Patchogue, New York

Your book is now at the top of my listwritten from the heart, reinforcing yet honest.

S USAN M. G ROSS , education and family care specialist, Alzheimers Association North Central Texas Chapter

This wonderful book gives a personal perspective of a couples journey with Alzheimers disease as they reach out for help and support. The personal sharing, the compelling development of Marty, and his insights as a caregiver all provide for an important message.

M ICHAEL M ALONE , MD, medical director, Aurora Senior Services chair; Public Policy Committee, American Geriatrics Society

Marty has truly captured the essence of loving and caring for somebody with this disease. His book is insightful, thoughtful, heart-warming, and respectful. Martys sense of humor and abundant patience surely are a blessing for Elaine.

S COTT M C F ADDEN , president and CEO, Lutheran Home and Harwood Place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

To be complete, stories about Alzheimers disease and caregiving must touch on both defeats and triumphs. In My Two Elaines, Governor Schreiber stirs the hearts of readers both with great suffering and great love inherent to the caregiving journey, lightening the load with humor. He introduces us not only to the woman he married and the person she became after Alzheimers but also to the extraordinary individual who loves them both: her Marty.

D ANIEL C. P OTTS , MD, FAAN, attending neurologist, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Alabama; founder and president, Cognitive Dynamics Foundation

With poignant clarity and candor, Schreiber provides readers with insight into the often incomprehensible world of a person living with Alzheimers disease as well as the many challenges faced by family caregivers. My Two Elaines is easily integrated into health-care curriculum, sparking rich discussions related to dementia, caregiving, anticipatory grief, advance care planning, and community support services. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many learners expressing gratitude for the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the family caregiver experience.

D R . S TACY B ARNES , director, Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center, Marquette University

My Two Elaines demonstrates beautifully that the journey is not just for the person with the diagnosis but for the spouse and family as well, and that it is a journey to not attempt alone and unsupported. [Martys] discussions will no doubt help those who may be afraid to admit they dont have it all under control. I highly recommend this book. It is a quick read that provides a lot of great advice that will decrease the learning curve immensely.

T ARA R EED , author of What to Do Between the Tears: A Practical Guide to Dealing with a Dementia or Alzheimers Diagnosis in the Family

Marty Schreiber has written a book that is invaluable to the Alzheimers community. His personal experience (and wisdom gained) as a caregiver is shared in such an honest and impactful way that it should be mandatory reading for all individuals who step forward in this capacity.

D AVID S IMBRO , senior vice president, Northwestern Mutual; former member, Alzheimers Association Board of Directors

My Two Elaines provides real-life lessons about how to cope and survive each day with loving care, particularly when communication is lost. Marty helps caregivers work through their guilt and sheds light on making difficult decisions when professional care is needed for a loved one. Most of all, Marty brings us an amazing story of love, understanding, and hope. It is one of the most moving and powerful stories Ive read.

J ULIE T OMBARI , administrator, New Day Adult Care Center, North Palm Beach, Florida

I encourage my fellow health-care professionals to read and share this book.

J UDY B EILER , RN, director, Global and Executive Health Program, Aurora Health Care

I only wish my father had this book to help him during my own mothers illness.

P AULA K IELY , city librarian, Milwaukee Public Library

This book is a narrative tool to help increase peoples understanding of Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRDs) and the caregiver experience.... There are few narratives from the male caregiving perspective, and this resource provides a unique opportunity to learn about their challenges.... In addition, the book can be used in training programs for direct care workers to increase knowledge and understanding levels on these topics.

C OLLEEN G ALAMBOS , PhD, ACSW, LCSW-C, FGSA, Helen Bader Chair in Applied Gerontology and Professor, University of WisconsinMilwaukee

My Two Elaines

Copyright 2022 by Martin Schreiber

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The information in this book has been carefully researched by the authors and is intended to be a source of information only. Readers are urged to consult with their physicians or other professional advisors to address specific medical or other issues. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages incurred during or as a result of the use or application of the information contained herein.