Untangling Caregiver Stress by Keeping a Journal with Vicki Tapia

When both of her parents were diagnosed with dementia, Vicki Tapia, a lactation consultant who had coached around 10,000 mother-baby pairs, found her energies redirected to the other end of life. A lifelong writer, she soon began journaling as an outlet for the stress and strain she encountered as their long-distance caregiver. Over time, this journal became a book-length work, a memoir detailing her family’s rocky road through this devastating disease.  

She was inspired to seek publication after many friends told her that reading her words helped them on their own dementia journeys. Her story was then published by Praeclarus Press as Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia. It became a finalist in the 2015 High Plains Book Awards and was named "One of the best Alzheimer's books of all time" by Book Authority.

Vicki is a co-founder and manager of AlzAuthors, happily serving as treasurer, acquisitions editor, and whatever else is needed. She’s a lifelong traveler and has been all over the globe and the United States. When she’s not busy writing, you’re apt to find her out walking her dog or off on an adventure with her husband on their tandem bicycle.

In this episode, we discuss the dilemma of being a long-distance caregiver to two parents with dementia at the same time, the trauma of moving her parents not once but twice, and how journaling helped her keep her sanity.

Read Vicki’s AlzAuthors blog post: https://alzauthors.com/2018/05/15/meet-vicki-tapia-alzauthors-admin-and-author-of-somebody-stole-my-iron/

Purchase Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia: https://amzn.to/38dsl0o

Purchase Maggie https://amzn.to/3hO80BW

Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.

Connect with Vicki 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomebodyStoleMyIron/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicleetap

Website: https://vickitapia.com/

About the Podcast

AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .

Thank you for listening.

We are a WCN Featured Podcast.

Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.

Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.

Shop our Store

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.