WAUWATOSA, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- There are currently more than 100,000 seniors in Wisconsin ages 65 or over battling Alzheimer's.
Those with the disease depend on the care and compassion of family members for their well-being, and caregivers often neglect their own health.
Elaine's Hope, a new facility for Alzheimer's patients in Wauwatosa, is looking to improve life for caregivers as well.
"When there's a diagnosis of Alzheimer's there are two patients the person with dementia and also the caregiver, so what Elaine's hope is, Elaine's Hope is to help the person who is ill and also help the caregiver live their best possible lives", said Marin Schreiber former Wisconsin governor.
The facility is backed by 20 years of experience in dementia patient care and designed specifically for those needs.
"We split up our residents into a much more manageable group, each of the neighborhoods is designed so it's an open concept if you walk out of your room you look into a living room or kitchen and immediately understand where you are in your community," added Scott McFadden CEO Lutheran Home.
In Wisconsin, there were around 195,000 Alzheimer's caregivers in 2019, a large number of people who the disease also takes a high toll on.
"I think a caregiver maybe has one of the most difficult jobs in the world, a caregiver is more apt to die quicker, become sick sooner, lose their life savings and also have difficulties at work more so than any other type of caregiving situation", shared Schreiber.
The former Wisconsin governor experienced some of those struggles with his wife Elaine, whom the new facility is named after. He's a long-time advocate for Alzheimer's, his work includes a book titled my two Elaine's in which he shares his knowledge on coping and surviving as an Alzheimer's caregiver.
"Once I understood the importance of me joining her life, it's so important to make sure the caregiver realizes they cannot do it alone. Again the job is so emotionally impacting, you could very well have a chance of dying before your loved one," Schreiber advises.
The former governor is also asking people around caregivers to support them and learn more about the disease.
"If friends and neighbors could understand the challenge of being a caregiver, understand the fact that Alzheimer's is not a mental disease it's a physical disease," said Schreiber.
Elaine's Hope is one of Schreiber's efforts in continuing to raise awareness on Alzheimer's, hoping a cure is soon found, but meanwhile making life better for everyone affected by it.
Carrying out his wife's legacy of caring for those needing it most.
"She did everything she could to help other young people grow with hope and opportunity, working hard to make sure that we can help our young people even one person at a time."
Lutheran home officials say the organization provides almost 12 million dollars in charity care annually, allowing those diagnosed with Alzheimer's on Medicaid to receive care at their facilities.