Living with a parent who has dementia is one of the hardest journeys a person can face and one of the loneliest.
In Making It Work: Living With a Parent With Dementia, Troy Ancrum shares real-life stories from his day-to-day experience caring for his 88-year-old father. Written in a warm, conversational voice, this book offers practical insight, emotional honesty, and hope for caregivers who are trying to figure things out as they go.
Through moments of frustration, unexpected humor, role reversal, and deep love, Troy explores what dementia really looks like inside the home, not from a medical perspective, but from the heart of someone living it. From repeated questions and fading short-term memory to powerful long-term memories that remain untouched, this book helps readers understand how to adjust expectations, protect dignity, and choose peace over perfection.
This is not a clinical guide. It is a companion.
Inside, you'll discover:
Relatable stories that remind you you're not alone
Practical ways to communicate and reduce stress
Guidance on caring for yourself while caring for someone else
Encouragement to find joy, humor, and connection even on hard days
Whether you are a caregiver, a family member, or someone preparing for what's ahead, Making It Work offers reassurance, understanding, and the reminder that love still matters-even when memory fades.
This journey is not easy. But with patience, presence, and compassion, it can be made to work.