This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
Published on August 18, 2019, Nicci Gerrard's book, 'The Last Ocean,' is a poignant exploration of dementia, a disease that can leave those it afflicts feeling lost and consumed. Gerrard's journey into the world of dementia began after her father's passing in 2014, and she embarked on a quest to learn more about the disease as both a journalist and an activist.
As Gerrard recounts, her father's decline was marked by a rapid loss of physical and cognitive abilities, leaving him skeletal, immobile, and inarticulate. Despite this, Gerrard notes that her father retained a sense of self, a 'soul' that remained intact even as his body and mind deteriorated.
Witnessing her father's struggle with dementia, Gerrard felt compelled to tell the story of this mysterious and often misunderstood disease. However, she did not want to write a traditional memoir, instead opting for a book that would explore the complexities of dementia through the voices and stories of those affected.
Through her research and interviews with doctors, nurses, carers, and people living with dementia, Gerrard aimed to create a book that would raise questions and spark emotions, rather than providing definitive answers. The result is a tender and inquisitive tour of a subject that can be both raw and painful.
