What do you do when your mom stands up, reaches for the door, and insists, “I want to go home”—especially when it isn’t safe, and she’s already moving? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, you’re invited into a live discernment conversation that names one of the most common and emotionally charged—moments in dementia caregiving. When “I want to go home” collides with urgency, weather, safety, and truth, caregivers are often left feeling torn between protecting their loved one and preserving dignity. This conversation explores what may actually be happening beneath the words, why home is not always a place, and how Christian caregivers can respond faithfully without lying, arguing, or escalating the moment. Rather than offering scripts or guarantees, this episode orients caregivers toward discernment, responsibility, and steady presence in the moment God has entrusted to them. Key Topics Covered in This Episode Why “I want to go home” is not always about location How dementia changes meaning without erasing personhood The difference between stopping behavior and stewarding safety What Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ looks like in real time How tone and posture can de-escalate without deception When walking with your loved one may preserve more dignity than restraint Why repetition does not mean failure in dementia care Time-Stamped Episode Highlights 0:00–1:16 — The Real-Life Dilemma A common caregiving moment: urgency, rain, a moving body, and a caregiver forced to respond in real time. 1:16–1:59 — What “Home” May Actually Mean Why home may point to memory, emotion, or eternity—and why correcting facts often escalates distress. 2:00–3:39 — Live Discernment Conversation Begins Martha shares her caregiving reality and names the tension between honesty and safety. 3:39–5:06 — When Walking Feels Like the Only Option Physical strength, autonomy, and the challenge of stopping movement without causing anger. 6:21–7:51 — Truthful Validation Without Lying Why agreeing with emotion is not the same as agreeing with a false reality. 7:51–9:36 — Redirecting Without Resistance How open-ended questions and gentle redirection can slow escalation. 9:36–10:21 — Repetition and Faithfulness Why answering the same question repeatedly is not failure—but neurological reality. 10:38–12:06 — When Safety Is at Risk Rain, weather, and movement: discerning when presence matters more than prevention. 12:06–12:42 — Discernment Over Control Why caregivers are not called to fix the moment, but to steward responsibility faithfully. Key Takeaways for Christian Caregivers Dementia is a progressive neurological disease marked by loss—not something to solve or spiritualize. Truth does not require correction; it requires integrity and wisdom. Safety is part of faithful stewardship, even when it’s messy or inconvenient. Dignity is preserved when caregivers stay present rather than escalate or restrain. Faithful caregiving is not measured by outcomes, calm emotions, or perfect responses. If this episode resonates with you—if you’re navigating moments where safety, truth, and love collide—you’re invited to take the next faithful step. Join the DigniCare Society — Foundations, a bounded space for Christian caregivers seeking biblical clarity and discernment as they steward what God has entrusted to them. Listen. Discern. Walk faithfully—without false hope or pressure to fix what cannot be fixed. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join #DementiaCaregiving, #ChristianCaregiver, #CaregivingWithDignity    

What do you do when grief, worry, and responsibility all wake up with you at the same time—and none of them wait for you to feel steady? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we name a collision many Christian caregivers are living inside of but rarely articulate: fragile plans and shifting emotions pressing up against fixed responsibilities that do not pause. Recorded in the days after Christmas, this conversation does not offer coping strategies or emotional resolution. Instead, it slows us down long enough to tell the truth about what changes—and what does not. Plans change.Feelings change.Roles change. Christ has not changed. This episode helps caregivers discern the difference between every need around them and the actual responsibility God has entrusted to them today, anchoring caregiving decisions in biblical truth rather than guilt or urgency. Topics Covered Christian caregiving and overwhelm Dementia caregiving after loss and grief Faith-based caregiving discernment The difference between emotions and truth Shifting caregiving roles and Christian identity Biblical perspective on responsibility and stewardship Why caregiving is not a detour from God’s plan Episode Highlights 00:00 When grief, worry, and overwhelm wake up with you02:55 Fragile plans colliding with fixed caregiving responsibility04:48 Why plans are fragile, but God is sovereign09:35 Emotions shift, but God’s mercy does not15:05 Caregiving roles change, but Christ does not19:22 The days are long, the years are short26:04 Discernment question: what responsibility has God entrusted to you today? Key Takeaways for Christian Caregivers Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are failing in your faith. Emotions are real, but they are not truth. Caregiving responsibility remains even when feelings are heavy. Your identity is in Christ, not in your caregiving role. Faithfulness begins with accepting the responsibility God has entrusted to you today—no more, no less. This episode is not about resolving emotions.It is about standing on truthful footing before the Lord. If this episode helped you think more clearly about your caregiving responsibility, please subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another Christian caregiver who may be carrying more than they can name. If you are looking for a place to discern your caregiving responsibility biblically—without pressure to fix or feel better—you are invited to join the DigniCare Society – Foundations. Christ has not changed.And faithful caregiving begins with clarity, not certainty. If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with another Christian caregiver who is carrying heavy decisions right now. Subscribe to Dementia Caregivers Support for Christians so you don’t miss future episodes grounded in biblical truth and caregiving clarity. A review also helps other caregivers find faithful support when they need it most. And if you’re ready for a simple, structured, biblical place to think through this season with clarity, you’re invited to explore the DigniCare Society — Foundations. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Le

What do you do when the calendar turns to January, but dementia has made even Tuesday uncertain? In this end-of-year episode of Dementia Caregivers Support for Christians, Lizette speaks directly to Christian family caregivers who feel pressured to plan, decide, and resolve everything for the year ahead—while living in the unpredictable reality of dementia. This episode does not promise peace, solutions, or outcomes. Instead, it offers biblical clarity on how faithful decision-making begins with truth: stewarding today, facing real limits, and taking small, obedient steps without trying to control tomorrow. Rooted in Scripture and lived caregiving experience, this conversation reframes planning, wisdom, and responsibility through a distinctly Christian lens. Episode Highlights 0:00–1:15 - The Calendar Moment Every Dementia Caregiver Knows • Sitting at the kitchen table with a blank calendar and a noisy mind • Medication changes, doctor conversations, and the pressure of “what’s next” • Why traditional year-ahead planning breaks down in dementia caregiving 1:15–2:06 - The Weight of End-of-Year Decisions • Care choices, finances, housing, and health all colliding at once • How planning quietly turns into pressure—or denial • Why this season feels heavier than others 2:06–3:03 - A Different Goal: Noticing What Is Real Today • Shifting from controlling outcomes to stewarding responsibility • Recognizing limits, needs, and the next faithful step • Why Christian caregiving requires truth, not optimism 3:56–5:59 - What Psalm 90 Teaches Us About Wisdom • “Teach us to number our days” vs. trying to control the year • Why Scripture never calls caregivers to manage outcomes • Daily dependence as biblical wisdom 6:40–9:56 - Stewarding Today, Not Controlling Tomorrow • The difference between planning and outcome control • Why dementia exposes the limits of even good intentions • Releasing responsibility for what only God governs 9:56–14:18 - Wisdom Begins With Facing Reality • Why denial often masquerades as faithfulness • Two caregiver scenarios: maintaining “normal” vs. telling the truth • How obedience starts with honesty before God 14:18–17:07 - Small Faithful Steps Over Big Resolutions • Why New Year’s resolutions often harm caregivers • The danger of unsustainable promises • Faithfulness in modest, repeatable obedience 17:07–20:31 - Identity and Personhood Are Secure • Dementia does not erase dignity or personhood • Why identity is grounded in the image of God, not cognition • God’s unchanging faithfulness amid decline 20:31–21:59 - A Clarifying Question for the Year Ahead • What are you trying to control that belongs to the Lord? • What has God actually entrusted to you today? This moment is meant for discernment—not emotional processing or decision-making pressure. Key Takeaways • Dementia makes future-focused planning unreliable—and that is not a spiritual failure. • God calls caregivers to steward today, not secure outcomes. • Wisdom begins with truth about limits, resources, and reality. • Faithfulness is measured in obedience, not productivity or results. • Personhood and dignity remain intact because they are rooted in God, not cognition. If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with another Christian caregiver who is carrying heavy decisions right now. Subscribe to Dementia Caregivers Support for Christians so you don’t miss future episodes grounded in biblical truth and caregiving clarity. A review also helps other caregivers find faithful support when they need it most. And if you’re ready for a simple, structured, biblical place to think through this season with clarity, you’re invited to explore the DigniCare Society — Foundations. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download

Christmas has passed, but dementia caregiving has not paused. For many Christian caregivers, the days after Christmas bring quiet grief, lingering guilt, and a deeper question: Does this faithfulness actually matter? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we slow down and look honestly at what Emmanuel God with us  means in the real, often unseen conditions of dementia caregiving. This episode is not about fixing dementia, managing emotions, or planning what comes next. It is about seeing clearly where you are right now, and understanding how Christ’s presence shapes the responsibility God has entrusted to you in this season. If you are a Christian caregiver wrestling with exhaustion, loss, or the sense of being unseen after the holidays, this episode offers biblical clarity without platitudes — and a steady reminder that dementia does not have the final word. Topics Covered Dementia caregiving after Christmas Grief and guilt in Christian caregiving Emmanuel: God with us in real suffering The image of God and dignity in dementia Holding joy and grief together as a believer Faithful stewardship in unseen caregiving work Hope beyond dementia and caregiving Time-Stamped Episode Highlights 00:00–03:00 Christmas Is Over, Caregiving Is Not The quiet reality of December 26: routines return, questions linger, and caregivers wonder if their faithfulness matters. 03:00–07:30 Why This Episode Is Not About Fixing Anything Clarifying the purpose of the episode — seeing reality clearly, not offering solutions or emotional relief. 07:30–12:00 Emmanuel Enters Real Conditions, Not Ideal Ones What “God with us” truly means for Christian dementia caregivers living in exhaustion, confusion, and loss. 12:00–17:00 Dementia Cannot Erase the Image of God A biblical grounding in dignity: why cognitive decline never diminishes personhood or worth. 17:00–21:30 Holding Joy and Grief Together in Christ Why Christian joy is not the absence of sorrow, and how believers can grieve real loss without losing hope. 21:30–26:30 Hidden Faithfulness Still Counts How unseen caregiving tasks are real stewardship before God, even when no one else notices. 26:30–29:30 A Future Beyond Dementia Anchoring caregiving in eternity: why dementia does not have the final word for believers. 29:30–End A Question for Discernment, Not Guilt Inviting caregivers to reflect on where their current choices may be least aligned with the truth that Christ is with them now. Key Takeaways for Listeners God is present in the actual conditions of dementia caregiving, not waiting for life to improve. Dementia changes abilities but never removes the image of God. Grief and joy can coexist faithfully in the Christian life. Unseen caregiving work is real stewardship before the Lord. Dementia will not have the final word for those who are in Christ. If this episode spoke to where you are right now, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you don’t have to walk this season alone. You can also share this episode with another Christian caregiver who may be quietly carrying the same questions. And if you’re ready for a simple, structured, biblical place to think through this season with clarity, you’re invited to explore the DigniCare Society — Foundations. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment ca

Christmas week can feel relentless when you’re caring for someone with dementia. The calendar fills quickly church services, family gatherings, expectations to “just stop by.” Meanwhile, getting out the door is exhausting, evenings are harder, and familiar questions repeat again and again. In this episode, Lizette walks through a real conversation with a Christian caregiver navigating how much holiday activity is wise for her grandmother. Together, they explore how anchoring decisions, managing expectations, and accepting entrusted responsibility can bring clarity—without trying to control outcomes or preserve traditions at all costs. This episode is not about making the holidays easier.It’s about placing decisions where they belong, so caregivers can remain faithful in a demanding season. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why dementia caregiving decisions intensify during the holidays • How choosing one anchor can guide everything else • The difference between agitation and simple repetition • Why engagement isn’t wrong—even when it’s costly • How frustration grows in the gap between expectation and reality If you’re feeling pulled in too many directions this Christmas, this conversation will help you see your situation more clearly and discern what faithfulness looks like now—not what it used to look like. 🎧 Listen now and consider what needs to be anchored in your caregiving this season. For deeper biblical clarity and support, you’re invited to join the DigniCare Society – Foundations, a Christ-centered community for caregivers stewarding this calling faithfully. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask 🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple PodcastsRead the blog: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/christian-caregivers-holiday-guilt-dementia-disrupts-plans/    

Some conversations in dementia caregiving feel heavier than the hands-on care. You repeat yourself.You try to explain.And afterward, you replay every word—wondering if you spoke too much, too harshly, or not faithfully enough. In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we turn to Scripture to reframe how we approach hard conversations in dementia care. Not as a communication strategy. Not as a way to manage reactions. But as a way to remain faithful to the responsibility God has entrusted to you. Drawing from James 1:19–20 and Proverbs 15:1, this episode offers biblical clarity for caregivers who are weary of carrying outcomes they were never meant to control. This is an episode about faithfulness—not fixing. Why Conversations Can Feel Harder Than Care Tasks Dementia caregiving places family caregivers into emotionally charged conversations they never asked to have—with loved ones, siblings, doctors, and others who are afraid or resistant. The weight is not just what you say—but what you feel responsible to hold. 1. “Slow to Speak” Is Not the Same as Silence Scripture does not call caregivers to avoid truth. James 1 teaches restraint of the flesh—not avoidance of responsibility.Slowing down protects truth so it can be spoken without haste, harshness, or sin. Being slow to speak allows caregivers to lead without being led by emotion. 2. Truth and Gentleness Are Not Opposites Christian dementia caregivers are often pulled toward two extremes: Harsh honesty that wounds Avoidance that fears upsetting others Biblical faithfulness requires both truth and gentleness—spoken with right timing and Christ-like posture. Speaking truth in love reflects Christ’s character, not control. 3. You Are Responsible for Faithfulness—Not for Responses Dementia changes how people hear, process, and regulate emotions. This episode clarifies a crucial boundary:You are accountable for obedience—not for outcomes. Misunderstanding or anger is not automatic evidence of failure.Often, it is evidence of neurological loss in a fallen world. 4. Asking God for Wisdom When You Don’t Know What to Say James 1:5 offers a promise without shame:God gives wisdom generously. Wisdom is not a perfect script.It is often the next faithful sentence. Caregivers are invited to ask—daily—for what is needed today. 5. Hope Does Not Come From Getting the Words Right Christian hope in dementia caregiving is not rooted in calm conversations or resolved family dynamics. Hope is in Christ alone. Even when conversations never improve, faithfulness is not wasted.Peace is not tied to understanding—only to Christ. This conversation brings calm, order, and biblical clarity to one of the most overwhelming transitions Christian caregivers face. Key Takeaways for Christian Dementia Caregivers Faithful communication begins with restraint, not reaction Truth is never abandoned—but it is stewarded Outcomes belong to God, not the caregiver Wisdom is given daily, not all at once Peace is rooted in Christ, not conversation results If this episode brought clarity or steadied your heart, consider subscribing to the podcast so you don’t walk this season alone. You’re also encouraged to share this episode with another Christian caregiver who may be carrying the weight of hard conversations. For deeper biblical clarity and support, you’re invited to join the DigniCare Society – Foundations, a Christ-centered community for caregivers stewarding this calling faithfully. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other

What do you do when the spouse who has always handled the finances, paperwork, and big decisions can no longer do it safely? In this episode, Lizette Cloete walks alongside Anne, a Christian wife whose husband was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, as they talk through the first faithful step when dementia changes who carries the legal and financial load. This conversation brings calm, order, and biblical clarity to one of the most overwhelming transitions Christian caregivers face. Key Topics & Themes • Christian dementia caregiving and stewardship • When a spouse with Alzheimer’s can’t manage finances • Health care power of attorney and durable power of attorney • Elder care attorney and Medicaid planning • Asset protection for Christian families • Caregiver procrastination and overwhelm • God’s order in dementia decision-making • Protecting dignity while planning ahead Episode Insights  • Dementia care does not start with daily tasks—it starts with legal authority • God is not a God of confusion; clarity brings peace to caregiving decisions • Early Medicaid and asset planning is an act of love, not pessimism • Procrastination often signals missing order—not missing faith • Protecting the caregiver’s future matters just as much as caring for the spouse Key Takeaways  ✔ Confirm healthcare and financial powers of attorney early ✔ Choose a backup decision-maker who is not your spouse ✔ Meet with an elder care attorney who specializes in Medicaid planning ✔ Ask the right question: How do I protect my ability to live well long-term? ✔ One clear step today reduces years of stress later Community and biblical grounding bring order where caregiving feels chaotic. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask 🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts   Read the blog: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/how-christian-wives-can-take-over-finances-when-their-husband-has-dementia/  

Some burdens sit heavier than others — not just on your shoulders, but on your soul. In this episode, Lizette speaks directly to caregivers carrying grief, confusion, and responsibility they never asked for. Using James 1:2–5, she unpacks how Christian caregivers can find real joy, hope, and wisdom — not from easier circumstances, but from Christ Himself. Whether you’re grieving a parent’s decline, feeling stretched thin by holiday stress, or just wondering how much longer you can carry this weight, this conversation will anchor you in biblical truth and help you take the next faithful step. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • Why you don’t have to pretend your burden is light (James 1:2-4) • How God uses every kind of burden to produce steadfastness • The power of Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ in dementia caregiving • Why decision fatigue is real and how to ask for wisdom without shame • How to hold grief and joy at the same time — and why that’s possible • The reason hope is not in changing circumstances, but in Christ Key Takeaways • God doesn’t minimize your burden. You don’t have to either. Naming it truthfully is the first step toward healing. • Every burden has a purpose. You may not see it yet, but steadfastness is forming. • Wisdom is available — ask. You’re not expected to have it all figured out. • Joy is a posture, not a feeling. It flows from knowing God is with you, not from things going your way. • You are not alone. Join a community of Christian caregivers who get it. Community and biblical grounding bring order where caregiving feels chaotic. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask 🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts    

What do you do when your loved one with dementia insists, “I’m fine,” while everything in you knows something is deeply wrong? In today’s episode, we walk alongside Jamie, a spouse caregiver facing the painful reality of caring for her husband as he refuses medical help, stops eating, and shows clear signs of cognitive decline. This conversation offers practical tools, biblical clarity, and emotional grounding for Christian caregivers who feel stuck between what they’re seeing and what their loved one refuses to acknowledge. If you’re navigating frontotemporal dementia (FTD), apathy, anosognosia, or the overlap between dementia and depression, this episode will help you find your next faithful step. Episode Overview & Key Insights In this episode, you will learn: Why your loved one may deny anything is wrong (anosognosia) A powerful explanation of why reasoning and convincing create more conflict—and how understanding brain changes can bring clarity and peace. How to make steady decisions even without a firm dementia diagnosis Why a diagnosis may not change what you need to do next—and how to anchor your caregiving in wise stewardship. The hidden connection between dementia and depression How depression can mimic or worsen dementia symptoms, and how caregivers can advocate for treatment even when a loved one refuses office visits. Practical strategies for supporting hydration and eating Gentle, conflict-reducing ways to encourage nourishment when apathy takes over. One simple action step caregivers can take today A clear, realistic step to reduce pressure and bring direction to your next decision. Key Takeaways for Christian Caregivers 1. You are not imagining the decline—your observations matter. You don’t need a confirmed diagnosis before you make wise, protective decisions. 2. Anosognosia is not stubbornness. Your loved one cannot see the decline, which means you must steward the decisions with clarity. 3. Depression may be playing a role. Treatment can sometimes reduce apathy, refusal, and emotional withdrawal. 4. You can advocate without forcing confrontation. Messaging your loved one’s doctor or using telehealth may open doors when in-person visits fail. 5. You do not have to walk this alone. Community and biblical grounding bring order where caregiving feels chaotic. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians 🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask 🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl 🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Read the Blog: https

Have you ever wondered why the weight of caregiving feels so heavy up close, yet somehow lighter when you finally step back for a moment? A caregiver once stood on a dock beside a massive cruise ship. Up close, the ship towered over everyone. It felt impossible to take in its full size. Later, out in the open ocean, that same ship looked tiny against the endless water. And when it slid through the tight walls of the Panama Canal, the ship suddenly felt fragile again. Three views. One ship. Each one changing how it felt. Caregiving works the same way. The closer you stand to the daily crises, the heavier everything feels. But when you shift your vantage point, even slightly, the load looks different. When Big Problems Sit Too Close Caregivers often press their shoulders against the “side of the ship.” The forms, the appointments, the behaviors, and the decisions sit inches from your face. This closeness creates pressure. It blocks out everything else. Many caregiving websites skip over this reality. They teach tasks. They teach symptoms. Yet they rarely explain why emotional exhaustion builds even when nothing “big” happens. It’s the closeness. The lack of mental space. The missing pause that lets you breathe. A small shift in perspective can relieve more tension than a dozen new checklists. Weathering Storm Seasons Storms expose how human we truly are. They do not expose failure. A crisis in dementia care often makes a caregiver question their strength. You may wonder why God felt far away or why the situation appears to get worse without warning. What most sites don’t discuss is the spiritual confusion storms trigger. Not “Why is this happening?” but “Why is this happening again?” The repeat grief. The repeated fear. The repeated cycle of getting your footing only to lose it once more. Yet no storm signals a loss of support. Fear rises, but limits do not. You are steadied even while shaken. The Pressure of Narrow Places Some stretches of caregiving feel like the Panama Canal. There is no extra margin. No extra money. No extra sleep. No extra help. Decisions feel high-stakes, and the fear of making the wrong move grows stronger. Caregivers often assume these tight spaces demand flawless choices. They don’t. They call for guidance. Not perfection. Many families never hear this truth. They bear the pressure alone, unaware that seeking counsel is part of caregiving wisdom. You were never meant to navigate narrow passages unsupported. Seeing Caregiving Through a Stewardship Lens A faithful caregiving life is not about doing everything. It is about noticing what is actually yours to carry. Some responsibilities belong to you. Some belong to community. Some belong to God. This view shifts the emotional weight. It opens room for calm. It allows you to step back from the “side of the ship” and gain a wider, steadier outlook. You can ask yourself this week:“What changes when I choose to see this season the way God sees it?”Not from fear. Not from fatigue. But from a place of trust and perspective.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the pod

What do you do when every clarifying question only makes the confusion worse?If you’ve ever watched your loved one insist something happened that never did—and felt the room tighten with every attempt to reason—this episode will give you a calmer, clearer way forward. In today’s conversation, we walk through real caregiving moments with a daughter caring for both her parents. Her dad’s paranoia shows up as missing items, shifting stories, and sudden suspicion. Her instinct—like many Christian caregivers—is to explain, fix, or clarify. But as she discovered, those questions often feel like pressure to a brain already overwhelmed. This episode introduces a simple, repeatable method you can begin using today: Yes → Validate → Redirect. It’s honest. It’s gentle. And it brings peace back into the room without joining an argument you can never win. You’ll hear practical examples, including how to respond when your loved one insists valuable items have disappeared or when old memories resurface as today’s reality. You’ll also learn why this approach works better than over-explaining and how Christian caregivers can apply these tools with patience and biblical clarity. Whether you’re navigating paranoia, confabulation, or those “stink-eye” days when you know something is off, this episode equips you with language that lowers tension instead of escalating it. 🌿 What You’ll Learn • Why reasoning or clarifying questions often intensify paranoia• How to use the Yes, Validate, Redirect method• How to meet emotional needs without lying or using confusing distraction• Why caregiving conversations are part of your spiritual growth• How to guide a moment back to safety when stories become fabricated• What Christian caregivers can do to bring calm into unpredictable interactions• This is practical support grounded in truth, clarity, and real-life caregiving experience—designed to help you respond with confidence the next time hard conversations arise.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts   Read the Blog: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/how-christian-caregivers-respond-to-dementia-accusations/

What if the very thing you never wanted is exactly where God grows you? I share the behind-the-scenes journey of how this podcast became unapologetically Christian—and what God has taught me through two years of walking beside dementia caregivers like you. If you feel like you didn’t sign up for this, you’re not alone. But here's the truth: God doesn’t waste your pain. He’s using even this season to shape you. Here are the three things I’ve learned: 1. God Won’t Stay in the Background.He calls us to be visible with our faith—even in the hard, messy parts of dementia caregiving. You don’t have to do this alone or quietly. 2. Obedience Brings Clarity—But Also Conflict.Spiritual warfare is real. When we step out with biblical clarity, conflict may increase—but so does the peace of knowing you’re walking in truth. 3. God Grows You for a Role You Didn’t Choose.I never wanted to be a pastor’s wife or run a Christian dementia podcast. But looking back, I’m grateful. God has carried me—and He’ll carry you too. You don’t have to pretend this is easy. But you also don’t have to carry it alone.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Does using your long-term care insurance feel like giving up? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Anne shares the emotional weight she carries as a wife caring for her husband with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Like many Christian caregivers, Anne wrestles with money fears, medical chaos, and legal roadblocks—all while trying to hold her faith steady. She’s approved for long-term care insurance, but a quiet fear holds her back: “What if I run out of money? What if I make the wrong decision?” That’s exactly why we had this conversation. Here are three key takeaways: 1. Use the Policy — It's Provision, Not Waste.Anne had already met the requirements. It was time to start using what she’d paid into. Stewardship doesn’t mean hoarding. It means wisely applying the resources God has provided. 2. Secure Legal Protection Early.Missing paperwork meant Anne had to pursue conservatorship. If you’ve got family “wingnuts” in the wings, you need clarity and a good elder care attorney now—not later. 3. You’re Shepherding a Soul, Not Just Managing Symptoms.Dementia changes the brain, yes—but it doesn’t erase sin. Anne was reminded that her caregiving is a spiritual calling: to keep pointing her husband back to Christ. If you’re drowning in the “what ifs,” this episode will help you come up for air. There is order in this journey—because God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

What do you do when caregiving decisions threaten to tear your life in three different directions? In Episode 305, we meet Sonia — a Christian caregiver trying to juggle her father’s increasing dementia care, her sister’s support needs, and her own marriage. If you’ve ever felt like you’re one Uber call or appointment away from collapse, this episode is for you. Sonia’s story is a clear example of what happens when logistics and love collide. She’s exhausted, doing her best, and unsure when (or how) to plan for what’s coming next. Together, we walk through how to make faithful decisions before burnout forces your hand. Here are three powerful takeaways: 1. Clarify Decision-Making Authority.Before you create a plan, make sure you can legally and emotionally carry it out. Who’s actually in charge? 2. Prioritize Long-Term Sustainability.Uber rides help today. But what about next year? Proactive planning—like exploring assisted living—can protect everyone involved. 3. Steward Your Marriage, Too.Caregiving isn’t a solo mission. It’s a season God designed you to walk through with your spouse, not around them. Sonia left our conversation with a plan to research care options — and a renewed sense of peace. You can, too.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever wondered what happens when doing what is safe for your parent doesn’t feel secure in your heart? That is exactly the question we are wrestling with today. In this episode, I’m talking with Jodi, a repeat guest who is facing a heartbreaking dilemma. Her mom has lived in New York her whole life and refuses to move to Florida where Jodi and her brother live, even though her safety is at risk. She’s missing medications, she has fallen, and the strain on the sister living nearby is becoming too much. We are stepping right into the hard questions today: Capacity vs. Competency: Just because your parent hasn’t been declared legally incompetent doesn’t mean they have the capacity to understand the consequences of staying home alone. Are you "letting" them make a decision they no longer understand? The "Safe Discharge" Window: We discuss the critical opportunity Jodi’s family missed when her mom was in a nursing home—and how you can use a "safe discharge" plan to prevent an unsafe return home. Preempting the Crisis: Instead of waiting for the next fall or emergency to force a move, we talk about how to have the hard family meeting now. You need to decide: are we going to fight the battle now to ensure safety, or wait for a crisis where we have no choice?. If you are feeling guilty because you are setting boundaries, remember: your God-given roles (like being a wife or mother) must come first. You do not have to figure this out alone. Let’s find a way to honor your parent and keep them safe, without losing your peace.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

“Everything looked right on paper… but it wasn’t the best plan for our family.” If you’ve ever felt that, Episode 303 is your compass. I sit down with Greenville attorney Chase Campbell to unpack Medicaid basics so you can prepare wisely when dementia begins—without fear, and with biblical stewardship. 1) Start sooner than feels necessary.The best time to plan was yesterday; the second best is today. Early action widens options, especially around the five-year look-back (gifts and transfers are reviewed). Longer runway = more flexibility and protection. 2) Lock in essential documents—for them and for you.Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care POA, and a Will (consider trusts where appropriate). Revisit about every three years—people move, die, or become unable to serve. God is not a God of confusion; order brings peace. 3) Don’t mix up Medicaid and Medicare.They’re different programs that sometimes overlap. Apply to the right Medicaid program or you’ll be denied (yes, it happens!). Learn your state’s options, including Community Long-Term Care (CLTC) that can help you keep loved ones at home. 4) Know your planning lane: crisis vs. pre-planning.Crisis = already in/entering care. Pre-planning = earlier, steadier moves (e.g., trusts, transfers). Strategy varies by asset type (home ≠ bank ≠ retirement); think “squeezing a balloon”—push here, it bulges there. Balance matters. 5) Choose the right attorney.Look for fit and clear explanations—the “big-picture” guide who connects legal steps to family dynamics, caregiver health, and practical realities. Ask them to map the whole mosaic, not just one tile. Bottom line: begin, document, distinguish programs, pick your lane, and get a guide. If you want help walking it out, our Christian caregiver community is ready with prayer, practical tools, and real next steps—because stewardship is part of our sanctification.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Are you lying awake imagining worst-case scenarios? In Episode 302, I talk with Linda — a Christian caregiver whose mind is constantly racing with all the “what ifs.” Maybe you know that feeling too. What do you do when anticipating the decline steals your peace? This week’s episode tackles that dread head-on. We talk through something called anticipatory grief — the emotional weight caregivers carry before anything “bad” even happens. Linda admitted, “I read too much and now I just expect it to all go badly.” That’s honest. And it’s more common than you think. But God doesn’t call us to carry imaginary futures. He calls us to steward today. Here’s what we cover:The problem with “pre-grieving” — and how it steals your ability to see what’s still good.Why reading every doom-filled article on dementia won’t make you more prepared — just more panicked.A new metaphor: What if caregiving is like learning to fly an airplane? You’ll walk away from this episode with a clearer head and a calmer heart — knowing you’re not failing, you’re just human.   🔗 Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

“Have you ever walked into an appointment knowing exactly what your loved one needs—then left feeling invisible?” That’s where Mary was when a therapist pushed beyond her husband’s limits and a dentist proposed a plan that ignored his stage of life. As always, I began with my focusing prompt: “Six months from now, what would have to change for caregiving to feel easier—while stewarding your health and relationships?” Mary’s answer? Clarity, and care that actually fits her husband. 1) Speak healthcare—brief, specific, functional.Don’t just give a diagnosis; describe what happens after the provider leaves. Try: “When you used the cane in therapy, he believed he could use it all day. That raised fall risk. Please train strength/balance without introducing a cane; he must remain on the walker.” This protects the other 23 hours. 2) Ask the right therapist, for the right work.PT = strength, balance, gait; OT = safe transfers, environment, task setup; Speech = thinking/communication/swallow. For Mary’s husband: stagger visits (e.g., Tue PT, Fri OT), not back-to-back. You’re allowed to set the rhythm: “No double sessions; schedule Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri.” 3) Request the “why.”If a plan feels wrong, say: “Explain why this is safest for him given dementia.” Make them connect method to your reality (e.g., forward lean during sit-to-stand can be protective; the danger is when he’s upright and leans back). 4) Advocate as a calling.You know your person best. Be the “squeaky wheel” with grace: affirm what helps, name what harms, and ask for a different way. That’s Therapeutic Truth-Telling™—truth + compassion. For steady help, join our Christian DigniCare Society—prayer, coaching, and practical tools so you’re never advocating alone. Early joiners get a short welcome call to start strong.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

“What do you say when your loved one keeps asking to go home—but you know they can’t?” That’s the ache David brought about his 96-year-old mom in assisted living. He’s gentle and calm, but still wonders, What actually helps? I began with the same clarifying prompt I use in coaching: “So let’s imagine it is six months from now and your caregiving journey feels easier. What would that look like for you?” David’s answer: clarity on what to say—and peace about when to answer the phone. Why we don’t use “therapeutic lying.”Lies can soothe for a moment but erode trust. We practice Therapeutic Truth-Telling™—meeting the emotion and telling the truth in gentle words. For recurring “I want to go home,” find a calm, consistent phrase you can repeat cheerfully: “Mom, I hear you want to go back to [street name]. I’m sorry—that isn’t possible anymore. This is where you’ll be living now. I love you, and I’ll make sure you’re cared for.” Use it like it’s the first time—every time. Understand what the brain is doing.After a mild stroke, mom’s time sense changed and she began confabulating—filling memory gaps with believable stories (e.g., “they keep moving me to different towns”). Naming this helps you respond with empathy instead of arguments. Rehab can still help.Even at 96, ask for speech and occupational therapy to target executive function and time concepts under the “recent stroke” umbrella—no formal dementia diagnosis required. You’re looking for practical strategies, not labels. Next faithful step.Try one phrase for two months, meet the emotion first, and pursue a short rehab trial. If you want steady, faith-anchored help, join the Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime access; first 100 get a 15-minute welcome call), or come to the free workshop on November 8 at 3 p.m. ET—links in the show notes. You don’t have to do this alone.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

“Have you ever kept quiet—not because you don’t care, but because you’re afraid of conflict?” That’s where Anita is with her brother, the primary caregiver for their mom. She sees the strain—his health sliding, the house slipping—and fears saying the hard thing will make it worse. If that’s you, Episode 299 is a gentle roadmap. I begin, as always, with the clarifying prompt I use in every session:“If in six months from today, what needs to have happened for you to say, by God’s grace, I am stewarding my caregiving, my health, and my relationships well… What would make it easier for you?” Anita’s answer: find the courage to talk to her brother. 1) Name what’s really in the way.Often the blocker is fear of the outcome—and we procrastinate when the outcome feels uncertain. Try a quick “worst-case” check. If he resists, what then? You can still frame help around shared goals without forcing change. 2) Use the 4D Method (Do • Delay • Delegate • Delete).Some things only the decision-maker can Do. Other tasks you can Delay (they’re not going anywhere). Many can be Delegated (cleaner, handyman). A few, for this season, you can Delete entirely—no guilt. This frees time and lowers pressure on the primary caregiver. 3) Reframe the conversation to protect the relationship.Lead with love and a shared aim: “I’m worried about you, and I want Mom to stay at home as long as possible. If you and I burn out, that won’t be possible. How can we build a little more help?” This is Therapeutic Truth-Telling™—truth plus compassion. 4) Build a support system.Longitudinal support changes everything. Practice scripts, share the load, and learn alongside others in a faith-anchored community. The caregivers who benefit most join before crisis hits. This approach sits inside the Think Different Dementia Method™ and the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™—caregiving clarity anchored in Scripture, with practical steps you can use this week.   Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script   🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This AloneJoin other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians   🗣️ Ask Your Question Live — and Be HeardBring your real-life caregiving questions to Ask the Dementia Coach — our free monthly Q&A session. You’ll get support, clarity, and maybe even be featured on the podcast.🎤 Register here: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/ask   🎓 Want to Reduce Overwhelm Right Now?Join our free workshop:How to Immediately Reduce Dementia Caregiver Overwhelm and Stress — in 3 Simple Steps🎟️ Reserve your seat: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/wsl   🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca   ❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.🎧 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts