Last August
Love in the Time of Alzheimer’s
In August 2022, Joe Gulla believed he was witnessing his mother’s final month. Mary Ann, in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, lay dying in the same Bronx hospice where she had once worked as Volunteer Director. What Gulla expected to be a final goodbye became thirty-one extraordinary days of unexpected connection, profound moments, and raw honesty about what it means to love someone through their dying process.
Last August unfolds as an intimate daily diary, capturing one crucial month in a longer caregiving journey with unflinching authenticity. Through music playlists that became the soundtrack to their conversations, hand-holding that developed its own language, and small rituals that anchored their days, Gulla discovers that his relationship with his mother is not ending but deepening. Even as Mary Ann’s words fade, their communication grows more profound.
Written in Gulla’s distinctive fragmented style, the memoir mirrors the actual experience of processing grief and love in real time. Each day brings new revelations about connection, loss, and the surprising ways the dying continue to teach the living. From moments of unexpected humor—like Mary Ann trying to eat her pink blanket—to devastating tenderness when she wipes away her son’s tears, Last August captures the full emotional spectrum of end-of-life caregiving.
This is not a story about death, but about the fierce vitality of love in impossible circumstances. For anyone who has cared for a dying loved one, Last August offers the profound comfort of recognition: you are not alone in this sacred, difficult work.
What People Are Saying
“Joe Gulla’s Last August is an inspiration to caregivers. Joe gets it right! He knows his mother, Mary Ann, is a person capable of growth despite her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. With curiosity and creativity, a beautiful story unfolds.”
—Nancy Lee Hendley, Leader, Trainer, Educator, CaringKind NYC
“Joe’s authentic reflections offer valuable insights to anyone caring for a loved one, capturing a spectrum of feelings from sorrow to joy, and inspiring hope when hope may not seem possible.”
—Carolyn Lukert, Dementia Specialist, Lukert Consulting & Care Partnership, LLC
“Joe speaks from the heart and you will feel his words. We are with him as he shares his highs and lows, showing us the way to be compassionate and understanding. His story is honest, raw, and at times you will laugh. There will be tears. This is a book for everyone but especially for caregivers. I wish I had this book when I was going through my caregiving years.”
—Helen Odell, Chaplain, Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY