Senator William Proxmire rocked the political boat more than once in his 32 years as a United States Senator, a record breaking tenure matched by only 24 other members in the history of the country. While in office, Senator Proxmire often advocated for action, and he was well known for creating “The Golden Fleece” Awards, wherein he used his wit to shine the limelight on government waste, abuse and scandal. Now three years after his death from Alzheimer’s disease his wife Ellen continues to take up his position as political activist, working to secure funds for research into care issues for those struggling with the illness.
This fund has allowed the Institute to hire its first full time researcher. Dr. Kate de Medeiros already into her third year was named one of four Brookdale Fellows an award given to emerging leaders in the field.
According to Mrs. Proxmire, her husband always wanted to be in politics. He attended both Yale and Harvard and went on to build up the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. He won his first election in 1957.
“We ignored the signs,” said Mrs. Proxmire. After her husband’s retirement in 1989, he kept his hand in politics through a newspaper column and public engagements. But strange things began to happen. He walked off a television program and often forgot his speeches. Eventually he cancelled his public appearances and withdrew. “He tried, and tried, and tried to keep involved,” says Ellen. It was when her husband insisted on writing and self-publishing the book, Your Joy Ride to Health, that she knew something was truly wrong. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1994.
“It’s a very insidious onset,” she recalls, “because of all the people in the world, this is the last person you expected this would happen to. He did everything right; he exercised, cared about nutrition, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke. It was such a shock.”
The Proxmire’s retirement plans had not anticipated Bill’s surprising diagnosis. The time Mrs. Proxmire expected to spend in their home in Arizona enjoying their golden years became years spent hiring caretakers to follow Senator Proxmire on his Washington, D.C. walks. After seven years, he became a danger to himself and others. His final years were spent at Copper Ridge. When Mrs. Proxmire placed her husband at Copper Ridge, that chapter of her life was hardly closed. In fact, she began a new chapter as an advocate for care issues. Through her experience, Mrs. Proxmire has become intimately aware of how the research of The Copper Ridge Institute directly affects the unique Model of Care© at Copper Ridge.
Although her husband died in December of 2005 she continues to be the voice for those who cannot speak. She would like to see more national attention given to Alzheimer’s disease and the important role specific care models like that at Copper Ridge play in preserving the dignity and quality of life of those with the disease. Through her fundraising efforts with TCRI she established the William Proxmire Research Fund. This fund has allowed the Institute to hire its first full time researcher. Dr. Kate de Medeiros already into her third year was named one of four Brookdale Fellows an award given to emerging leaders in the field. Kate is not only researching best practices related to care issues and AD but has expanded her research to ways that keep the mind engaged.