What I Wish I Knew: A Caregiver's Journey with Martin Schreiber

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Martin "Marty" Schreiber joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernial to talk about his caregiving journey on this edition of Caregiver SOS. 

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 nearly twenty-year journey as caregiver.

His speaking tour takes him to conferences, civic organizations, senior communities, libraries and more around the country. He has given more than 800 presentations since launching his awareness campaign in late 2016. Whether in Texas, Idaho, New York, Missouri, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Mississippi or closer to home, caregivers tell Marty that his message gives them encouragement 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.

Now in its fifth print edition, My Two Elaines also has been released as an e-book, an audiobook and on CD. Net proceeds are used to promote Alzheimer’s caregiver support.

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.

Marty’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 eleven great-grandchildren. 

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

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