Michael Irvin Reflects on Being a Caretaker for His Wife With Alzheimer's

Former NFL player Michael Irvin is opening up about his role as a caretaker for his wife, Sandy Harrell.

“This is so hard on families because every family member loves the one that is sick,” Irvin, 59, shared on the Wednesday, September 3, episode of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. “They think they know what’s best. You’re arguing about treatment and who’s going to take care of her and this thing requires an anointing.”

Harrell was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in her early 50s.

When first revealing his wife’s diagnosis in a June 2024 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Irvin said Harrell has trouble walking and speaking. As a result, she requires 24-hour care.

“I can’t do it 24 hours a day everyday so I have to get help,” he told podcast host Shannon Sharpe. “I’m praying for everybody out there who is dealing with it.”

According to John Hopkins Medicine, Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects older adults. When Alzheimer’s disease happens in someone younger than age 65, it’s known as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Early symptoms include changes in mood and personality, memory loss and trouble solving basic problems such as keeping track of bills or following a favorite recipe.

“We recognize some things were going wrong with her about 10 years ago, actually,” Irvin explained. “I buried my mom. She had Alzheimer’s. My mother-in-law was living with us because she had Alzheimer’s. And we were taking care of her. And now we thought my wife was going through menopause at 49 because she’s coming at 50.”

Irvin said his wife can sometimes take her “agitation” out on the medical staff who are helping her. Harrell’s changes in mood make it difficult for her family to keep the nurses they hire.

“I have to keep a 24-hour nurse with her all the time,” he said before revealing what happens when Harrell gets physical. “They take that nurse out, send another nurse and they put more charges on.”

Irvin and Harrell met in college and have been married since 1990. They share four children together: Myesha, 35, Chelsea, 29, Michael Jr., 28, and Elijah, 27.

Through all the highs and lows of the disease, Irvin stands by his decision to allow his wife to stay in her own residence.

“She, if anybody, has earned the right to be in her home,” he said. “No matter what, she will be in her home.”