"Myrna Marofsky's starkly honest—and beautifully loving—account of caring for her husband through Alzheimer's will no doubt help others walking this challenging path." —Tia Newcomer, CEO of CaringBridge

A heartfelt memoir of loving someone with dementia. Myrna's story of taking care of a husband with Alzheimer's is a gift to those experiencing the other side of a diagnosis.

When Myrna Marofsky was told her husband had early-stage Alzheimer's, she made a commitment to disregard the "tragedy talk" that typically surrounds this diagnosis. Instead, for five years she found ways to keep bad news from becoming a bad life.

In To the Last Dance, Myrna speaks to those who are too often forgotten, calling for more care to be given to the caretakers—partners experiencing the emotional heartache of loss while trying not to lose themselves.

This candid memoir is not another to-do list or dementia caregiver's guide. Instead, it is a real-life love story, demonstrating a way of living that:

• redefines caregiving,
• dismisses the "tragedy talk,"
• maintains identity and relationships, and
• finds possibilities and hope in the mist of adversity.

Being on the other side of a progressive disease can leave you feeling alone, without a compass, and struggling to maintain a mindset of possibilities. Myrna introduces two questions you can ask yourself to help find moments—or even years—of meaningful life through dementia:

How do you want to live each day?
How do you want to feel in the end?

"A story of navigating a partner's life with dementia using love, dignity, and respect as guideposts—adapting to all that irrevocably changes, while embracing and celebrating all that endures." —G. Allen Power, MD, geriatrician and author of Dementia Beyond Disease

Myrna Marofsky is an entrepreneur, consultant, and author. After years of facilitating groups of women business owners, she has mastered the art of asking questions that uncover new ways of thinking—a skill she benefited from when forced to redefine her life and the term "caregiving." She wrote To the Last Dance as a gift to those experiencing the loss and grief on the other side of a partner's diagnosis of a progressive illness.

"Unblinking, deeply insightful, and revealing both vulnerability and strength, Myrna Marofsky tells the story of navigating the uncertain terrain of her husband's life with dementia using love, dignity, and respect as her guideposts. This book contains powerful life lessons about adapting to all that irrevocably changes, while embracing and celebrating all that endures. An essential reading for families and care professionals alike."  -G. Allen Power, MD, geriatrician, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, and author of Dementia Beyond Disease

"A dementia diagnosis is devastating to both partners, as we witness often through CaringBridge. Myrna Marofsky's starkly honest—and beautifully loving—account of caring for her husband, Larry, through Alzheimer's will no doubt help others walking this challenging path."  -Tia Newcomer, CEO of CaringBridge, featuring stories of hope and healing in the Caregivers Up Close series

"There is perhaps no path more challenging than the slow, agonizing road of caring for a spouse with dementia. Myrna Marofsky has walked that road, and she has done it in a way that created a story worth telling: a love story. She is a wonderful example of the power of unstoppable love."  -Dan Diamond, MD, international disaster physician, speaker, author, and coach

"A well-written story that demonstrates Myrna Marofsky's intuitive understanding of how to work with her husband's strengths. This is a much-needed, helpful book."  -Judy Cornish, founder of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network®️ (DAWN), TEDX speaker, and author

"A wonderful guide for spouses, children, and grandchildren to feel the good, the bad, and the ugly of a loved one's dementia. Myrna Marofsky's insights in this book are a gift to readers, especially about keeping the long game in view: how will I feel the proudest of how I treated my loved one when they are gone?"
-Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis

"Funny, loving, and honest, Myrna Marofsky provides a gentle reminder to all health professionals that understanding patients as individuals, especially in the midst of trauma from grief and loss, takes precedence over business as usual. This is a must-read for all of us."  -Dr. Chris Bray, PhD, MA LP

Myrna Marofsky is an entrepreneur, consultant, and author. After years of facilitating groups of women business owners, she has mastered the art of asking questions that uncover new ways of thinking—a skill she benefited from when forced to redefine her life and the term "caregiving." She wrote To the Last Dance as a gift to those experiencing the loss and grief on the other side of a partner's diagnosis of a progressive illness.

"Unblinking, deeply insightful, and revealing both vulnerability and strength, Myrna Marofsky tells the story of navigating the uncertain terrain of her husband's life with dementia using love, dignity, and respect as her guideposts. This book contains powerful life lessons about adapting to all that irrevocably changes, while embracing and celebrating all that endures. An essential reading for families and care professionals alike."
-G. Allen Power, MD, geriatrician, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, and author of Dementia Beyond Disease

"A dementia diagnosis is devastating to both partners, as we witness often through CaringBridge. Myrna Marofsky's starkly honest—and beautifully loving—account of caring for her husband, Larry, through Alzheimer's will no doubt help others walking this challenging path."
-Tia Newcomer, CEO of CaringBridge, featuring stories of hope and healing in the Caregivers Up Close series

"There is perhaps no path more challenging than the slow, agonizing road of caring for a spouse with dementia. Myrna Marofsky has walked that road, and she has done it in a way that created a story worth telling: a love story. She is a wonderful example of the power of unstoppable love."
-Dan Diamond, MD, international disaster physician, speaker, author, and coach

"A well-written story that demonstrates Myrna Marofsky's intuitive understanding of how to work with her husband's strengths. This is a much-needed, helpful book."
-Judy Cornish, founder of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network®️ (DAWN), TEDX speaker, and author

"A wonderful guide for spouses, children, and grandchildren to feel the good, the bad, and the ugly of a loved one's dementia. Myrna Marofsky's insights in this book are a gift to readers, especially about keeping the long game in view: how will I feel the proudest of how I treated my loved one when they are gone?"
-Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis

"Funny, loving, and honest, Myrna Marofsky provides a gentle reminder to all health professionals that understanding patients as individuals, especially in the midst of trauma from grief and loss, takes precedence over business as usual. This is a must-read for all of us."
-Dr. Chris Bray, PhD, MA LP