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

“Have you ever felt guilty for wanting breathing room even though your loved one seems okay?” That’s where Barbara, 59, stands—her 63-year-old husband is early in dementia, mostly independent, yet the quiet dread won’t let her rest. We sat together to name the guilt, rebuild support, and plan without panic. I began with my focusing prompt: “In six months, what would need to change for caregiving to feel easier—while stewarding your health and relationships?” Barbara said: clarity and calm. That becomes our map. 1) Know your “bucket” and set benchmarks.Barbara’s husband is in the first bucket (early changes, still managing basics). That means time to plan—not to procrastinate. We backward-plan from the reality that, if he lives long enough, 24-hour care will be needed, then place milestones to know when to bring help in. 2) Rebuild community before crisis.Isolation dims resilience. I used my charcoal briquettes picture: pull one coal away from the fire and it cools. Re-enter the local church and friendships so people can actually help—don’t white-knuckle alone. 3) Legal stewardship now, not later.Meet an elder-law attorney for asset protection and to review POA/health-care POA/will (I recommend naming three decision-makers in order). Remember the five-year look-back—waiting shrinks options. Using your spouse’s resources for his care is stewardship, not selfishness. 4) Quick home-alone safety check.If he can’t scan and find items out of sight (open the fridge → find food; open a drawer → find the phone), he’s no longer safe to be alone—let that guide next steps. One small step this week: Barbara chose to return to church twice a month and start the elder-law consult. Small, faithful steps create spaciousness for your soul and safety for your home. Join our community if you need companions for the journey—steady prayer, coaching, and tools you can use right away.   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

“She had POA, her name on the bank, the house deed… then I asked, ‘Does your mom have a will?’ Silence.” That’s where Jennifer and I began in Episode 297—and where many of us discover the one document holding everything together. As always, I started with my focusing prompt: “In six months, what needs to have changed for you to be able to say your caregiving journey is easier?” Jennifer’s answer: I need more support. Together, we turned that into a plan. 1) Legal clarity, not guesswork.POA is important, but a will still matters for peace and protection. If you’re not sure it exists (or where it is), make that your first call this week. Stewardship is part of your obedience; God is not a God of confusion. 2) Ask differently—get real help.“Let me know if I can help” isn’t help. Make a specific help-list (two meals/week, Saturday outing, lawn care), keep it in your purse, and when someone offers, schedule it on both calendars. People aren’t busy when it’s scheduled. 3) Simple home-safety test.If your loved one can’t scan for what they can’t see (open fridge → find food; open drawer → find phone), they’re not safe to be home alone. That single test guides next steps—no guilt, just wisdom. 4) Begin with the end in mind.If your mom lives long enough with dementia, 24-hour care will be needed. Map options now: paid in-home help, adult day, memory care. Using Mom’s money for Mom’s care is stewardship, not selfishness—you’re protecting two lives: hers and yours. If you’re tired of guessing, I’d love to walk with you. Join the Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime access, monthly live support, prayer, practical tools) or come to our next free workshop—details in the show notes. You don’t have to carry 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

Lisa knew the next step—get help in the home—but guilt and fear kept saying, “Don’t spend the money… what if you need it later?” If that’s your inner soundtrack, Episode 296 is for you. We name the fear, anchor in truth, and build a simple plan you can act on this week. I began with my usual focusing prompt: “in six months, what needs to have happened for you to be able to say that you are stewarding your caregiving, your health, and your relationships well… and making this season easier?” Lisa said, space for me—and consistent help for Mom. That clarity became our path. Step 1: Ask clearly (and specifically). Church family often says, “Let me know how to help,” but they don’t know what you need. Tell them plainly you’re seeking a Christian private-duty caregiver within 10–15 miles, with clear speech, who will support Mom’s independence (observe safety while letting her do breakfast, simple lunch, light cleanup, walking). Be specific about hours: 5–10–15 hours/week. Specific ask → specific help. Step 2: Put it on the calendar. Keep a small “help list” in your purse. When someone offers, pull it out and schedule a slot on both calendars. People aren’t busy when it’s scheduled. Step 3: Set a loving deadline. Give yourself 30 days. If you haven’t found a good-fit helper by then, hire an agency for coverage while you keep looking privately. Stewardship includes your health. Step 4: Steward the money on purpose. Pray, then speak with an elder-law attorney about asset protection and the five-year look-back. Using Mom’s funds for her care is stewardship, not selfishness. Burnout serves no one. All of this sits inside the Think Different Dementia Method™, with Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ for honest, kind conversations and weekly rhythms from the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™—caregiving clarity anchored in Scripture. And if you need people beside you, join the DigniCare Society—lifetime access (under $100) and a 15-minute welcome call for the first 100 caregivers. 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

“Maybe I cannot do this at home anymore.”Mary said it out loud—five years in, faithful but worn thin. If that’s where your heart is today, Episode 295 is for you. I start with my clarifying prompt: “Six months from today, what needs to have happened for you to say your caregiving is easier—stewarding your health and relationships well?” Mary’s first brave steps: she scheduled her own doctor appointments and secured five hours of weekly respite through her local aging services.  That’s not selfish; that’s stewardship. Remember, about 30% of family caregivers die before the person they care for. Your health matters. We also tackled two hard lanes: 1) Falls that keep happening.Mary’s husband is “forgetting” the walker and reaching for a cane. That often signals the walker no longer makes sense cognitively. Try incidental cueing (“Here’s your walker, love”), and put the cane out of sight. Ask the doctor for a tune-up: orders for physical and occupational therapy. A new fall pattern = decline in function, and Medicare can cover skilled therapy. Some falls stem from judgment, not just balance—plan to prevent injury and mitigate effects. 2) Depression through a Christian lens.Many people living with dementia experience depression. Start by checking physical causes (vitamin D, medical contributors). Then use resources from biblical counselors (Mary’s assignments included Ed Welch’s “Blame It on the Brain” and a book on Depression by Dr. Halla/Hala). Medication isn’t always first, but it can sometimes help a person get over the hump. All of this sits inside our Think Different Dementia Method™, Therapeutic Truth-Telling™, and Contented Caregiver Blueprint™—relationship-centered, Scripture-anchored care. If you’re faithful but tired, come closer: the Christian DigniCare Society offers lifetime community, prayer, monthly AMAs, and a gentle on-ramp so you don’t carry 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

You planned a sweet, simple family moment… and instead you snapped. The cake, the chaos, the constant questions—then the guilt. If that’s familiar, Episode 294 is for you. We walk with Leanne through a birthday that went sideways and rebuild a better way using the PEACE framework. I begin with my clarifying prompt: “If you looked back six months from today and caregiving felt easier—what would need to have happened, keeping your health and your relationships in mind?” Leanne’s answer was honest: less frustration, more patience. Why frustration risesFrustration often lives in the gap between expectations and reality: we assume our loved one can handle more than they can—or we take away abilities they still have. Naming where they truly are (my “buckets,” not rigid stages) helps you right-size plans. Leanne’s mother-in-law was in the middle “bucket,” skipping steps with hygiene and sequencing—so a busy party became a perfect storm. PEACE Framework (your quick reset) P – Person: What’s happening in her brain and body (tired, anxious, skipping steps)?E – Environment: Noisy? Unfamiliar? Competing demands?A – Activity: Over- or under-stimulated?C – Caregiver contribution: What did my fatigue or hurry add?E – Evaluate/Educate: What will I change next time? One skill that transforms the dayPractice cheerful repetition: answer like it’s the first time—every time. “Where do I put my purse?” “Right here, love.” Not, “I already told you.” Cheerful supply of information lowers anxiety—for both of you. Give it 60 days; it’s a muscle that grows with practice. Leanne’s takeaway: stay cheerful with repetition and use PEACE after each incident to learn instead of spiral. If you want steady help, join our faith-centered Christian DigniCare Society—lifetime community, prayer, and live coaching so you’re not figuring this out 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

“How do I walk faithfully as a wife and still honor the covenant the Lord gave us?” That’s where Linda and I begin in Episode 293, after 53 years of marriage and a season where her husband’s thinking has changed. I start with the same clarifying prompt I use with every caregiver: “If you look back six months from today, what needs to have happened for you to say, by God’s grace, I’ve stewarded my caregiving health and my relationships well, that will make this easier for you?” Here’s the heart of our conversation: 1) Submission in this season looks like honoring his prior will.When your husband named you as health-care and durable power of attorney while he was in his right mind, he entrusted you to act according to his values. Exercising POA now is not “taking over”; it is submitting to his will from before cognition changed. 2) His value never rested on thinking.“His value does not rely on his ability to think… His value is in that he was created in God’s image.” That conviction shapes tone, touch, and every decision. Imago Dei drives dignity. 3) Communicate simply; preserve agency.Offer two good options (red shirt or blue shirt; plan A or B) when he can still choose; decide for him when he cannot—and do it gently. Then mirror emotion: join his joy, acknowledge his worry, validate, and move to the next thing. That’s Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ lived out. Linda shares a powerful moment: she declined a “smart” financial plan because it contradicted her husband’s lifelong convictions—an act of humility and fidelity to their story before God. For ongoing support, we fold this into the Think Different Dementia Method™ and the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™—relationship-centered, Scripture-anchored care. Come join our Christian caregiver community for steady prayer, coaching, and practical help.   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 worried that your loved one is picking up on your emotions, your stress, your lack of sleep—and it makes things worse?” That’s where Helen was before a full day of caring for her sister with dementia. We walked through a calm, honest plan that preserves dignity and steadies the caregiver’s heart. As I always do, I began with the exact focusing prompt: “If after this weekend, things went well, what would make it easier for you so that we can prepare you for this weekend?” Helen said: “to be able to communicate… affirm what she’s saying… keep her peace so she doesn’t pace.” 1) FAST stroke signs—don’t wait till morning. With recent TIAs, we reviewed FAST: Face droop, Arms drift, Speech/Swallow changes, Time = brain. If you see it, go—don’t “wait and see.” There are two things I never mess with: the brain and the heart. 2) Communicate differently (Therapeutic Truth-Telling™). Keep words gentle and simple; mirror emotion; validate first. Use short cues and “circle back” if she says no—agree when you can, then try again a few minutes later. Measure a good day by presence and peace, not perfect sentences. 3) Plan the day without exhausting yourself. You’re not on duty Thursday night—rest so you can serve Friday. Create low-energy connection: a 15-minute drive, a quick park/ice cream stop, a soft-spoken library visit, short Scripture reading or hymn singing. Use process-of-elimination for needs, and give space when needed. 4) Safety for a flight risk. Talk with the primary caregiver about interior locks or strategies so doors aren’t easily opened; you cannot be on duty 24/7. Identify a backup person you can call if fatigue hits. Long-term help matters. The caregivers who benefit most join early—steady prayer, coaching, and a place to ask real questions. You don’t have to walk 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

“Every caregiver starts from a different place, and where you begin will shape everything about your experience.” In Episode 291, I walk you through a simple, biblical framework to help you see where you are—and what the next faithful step looks like. Stage 1: Complacent (not ready, not skilled).You may say, “I’m just helping.” Denial is common—sometimes there isn’t even a diagnosis yet. Proverbs 12:15 reminds us that wisdom begins when we listen to counsel. Awareness is grace; once you recognize you are a caregiver, you can steward this season. Stage 2: Capable but Reluctant (skilled, not ready).You can do the tasks, but you haven’t embraced the call—resentment follows. James 4:17 exposes our reluctance: knowing the good and refusing it is sin. I had to confess my own resistance before the Lord turned reluctance into contentment. Stage 3: Committed but Overwhelmed (ready, lacking skills).Heart willing, hands unsure. Proverbs 19:2 warns that zeal without knowledge leads to mistakes and burnout. This is where training matters—communication, transfers, daily care—so your willingness can last. Stage 4: The Contented Caregiver (ready and skilled).Here you accept God’s call and keep growing in skill and the fruit of the Spirit. 1 Timothy 6:6–7 ties contentment to godliness—peace in the middle of hard things, not the absence of hard things. This pathway sits inside a relationship-centered approach: Think Different Dementia Method™ for biblical clarity, Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ for truthful, peace-giving communication, and the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™ for sustainable rhythms. Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds And you’re invited to Ask the Dementia Coach on October 18 at 3 p.m. ET—bring one real problem and leave with a plan. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you grow from awareness to contentment—one faithful step at a time.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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 caring for a parent with dementia all by yourself—no siblings, no spouse, a tiny church, and a growing knot of worry in your stomach?That’s Jennifer’s story in Episode 290. Her 84-year-old mom has Alzheimer’s, and Jennifer admits the hardest part is asking for help. I begin, as always, with the focusing prompt: “in six months, what needs to have changed for you to be able to say that your caregiving journey is easier?” She answers simply: more support. Together we turn that desire into a plan. 1) Ask specifically and schedule it. “Let me know if I can help” is not help. Create a small “help list” you keep in your purse—two meals a week, Saturday outing with Mom, lawn care—and when someone offers, hand them the list and put a date on both calendars. People aren’t busy when it’s scheduled. 2) Do the quick safety check. If Mom can no longer scan for items she can’t see (open the fridge to find food, open a drawer to find a phone), she is no longer safe to stay home alone. That single test guides next steps. 3) Begin with the end in mind. If your loved one lives long enough with dementia, 24-hour care will eventually be needed. Start now: list options (paid in-home help, adult day, memory care), review assets, and treat using Mom’s money for her care as stewardship, not selfishness—your health matters too. Because God is not a God of confusion, we pursue ordered, practical steps—relationship-centered care through the Think Different Dementia Method™, truthful communication with Therapeutic Truth-Telling™, and weekly rhythms from the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™. Need steady support? Join the Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime access, monthly AMAs, prayer, curated tools)https://www.skool.com/dignicarebydesign/about?ref=687c3a3591644ccda8fd2b5f5cedfede Or register for the next live workshop listed in the show notes. You don’t have to carry this alone.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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

“Why is everything spinning when there’s still no diagnosis?”In Episode 288, we walked with Fran through locked doors, false accusations, ER ping-pong—and the ache of holding Power of Attorney that seems powerless without clarity. Lizette began with the focusing prompt she uses in every session:“In six months from today, what would need to happen for you to say your caregiving journey is easier—keeping your health and your relationships in mind?”Fran’s answer was simple and brave: clarity for Mom and calm for me. Here’s where they landed: 1) Capacity vs. CompetencyAdults are allowed to make unsafe choices until someone documents impaired capacity. Competency is a legal status set by a court. That’s why APS sometimes can’t act and why many families only gain traction after a hospital evaluation—or by pursuing guardianship. You’re not failing; you’re navigating the rules. 2) Name what you can (and can’t) controlYou can ensure food, meds, bills, and safe transport. You cannot force cooperation without legal authority. That isn’t a moral failure—it’s accepting reality so you can act wisely. God is not a God of confusion; order begins with honest boundaries. 3) Document patternsWrite down delusions, unsafe choices, ER visits, elopement attempts. Patterns open doors for assessment and guide next steps. This is Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ applied: we face the truth kindly so we can steward well. 4) One act of grace—for youThis is a dimmer-switch season, not a light-switch fix. Choose one self-kindness today (a walk, a psalm, a call to a trusted friend). The Think Different Dementia Method™ and the Contented Caregiver Blueprint™ exist so you don’t white-knuckle alone. If this is your story, come closer. There’s a calm, biblical path forward—step by step, with community and prayer.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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 living in chaos—sure something’s wrong, but there’s no diagnosis yet? That’s where we meet Fran in Episode 288. Her mom changed the locks, accused her of stealing meds, refused help, and bounced in and out of the ER. Fran holds POA, but without clarity she feels powerless. I began with my focusing prompt: “In six months from today, what would need to happen for you to say your caregiving journey is easier… keeping your own health and your relationships in mind?” Fran’s answer: clarity and proper care for Mom. Here’s the hard truth we unpacked: capacity vs. competency. Until someone documents cognitive impairment, adults are entitled to make stupid decisions.  Adult Protective Services may investigate, but if the person still has capacity, they cannot force care. That’s why some families, like Fran’s, don’t get traction until a crisis leads to evaluation—or they pursue guardianship through the courts. So what can you do today? Name what you can and cannot control. You can ensure food, meds, bills, and safe transport; you cannot compel cooperation without legal authority. That isn’t failure—it’s reality. Document patterns and keep asking for assessment. ER visits, delusions, unsafe choices—write them down. Patterns guide the next step. Choose one self-kindness. I asked Fran for one action to make this easier. My suggestion to her—and to you: Be gracious to yourself. You’re doing what you can in a dimmer-switch season, not a light-switch fix. This is why longitudinal community matters: steady prayer, coaching, and a place to ask the right questions before the wheels wobble. If this is your story, come closer—there’s a calm, biblical path forward.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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

“She said, I’m not really a caregiver—I just call my dad to check if he ate.” That’s where Episode 287 begins: most of us don’t recognize caregiving until we’re already overwhelmed. Readiness isn’t a switch; it’s a process God invites us into. 1) Move from unaware to aware.Awareness is grace. When you finally name, “I am a caregiver,” you can respond faithfully instead of reacting frantically. (Proverbs 12:15) 2) Stay watchful—with gratitude.“God calls His people to wake up, be watchful, prepare, and endure.” Watch patterns before they become crises; give thanks in this providence. (Colossians 4:2) 3) Steward what God has given.Skills, resources, and your own well-being all require stewardship. Count the cost (Luke 14:28) and learn practical skills—communication, transfers, bathing with dignity—so you can serve wisely. 4) Practice discernment.Wisdom applied looks like seeking counsel, anticipating problems, and deciding on purpose (Proverbs 15:22; 27:12). Some crises can be prevented (remove throw rugs); others you consciously accept because you chose a path with eyes open. 5) Prepare your foundations.Legal first, then logistics: will, health-care POA, durable financial POA—secured before capacity is lost. Preparation is obedience, not fear. (Proverbs 24:27) 6) Endure in Christ.Readiness produces perseverance, not perfection. You’ll adjust and readjust, and that isn’t failure; it’s faithfulness (Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 12:1–2). If you need steady, faith-anchored help, I just opened the Christian DigniCare Society—lifetime access, monthly AMA calls, prayer gatherings, and a curated resource library (founding members get a 15-minute welcome call).  God is not a God of confusion. He meets you with order, wisdom, and strength for today’s step.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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

“Caregivers are natural givers… when it comes time to ask for help, that guilty voice shows up.” In Episode 286, Linda says, “I hate to ask my sons for help. This is my job, not theirs.” I answer plainly: “That guilt doesn't protect anyone. It just leaves you drained and makes it harder for you to serve with patience and joy.” As always, I begin with the exact clarifying prompt:“if you look back six months from today and your caregiving journey is easier. What would need to happen for you to say that you have been able to steward it well, keeping in mind your health and your relationships in the process?” Linda’s hope is simple: ask her sons for specific times—“a few hours in an evening or on Saturday or Sunday”—to take Dad out. She hesitates because they’re building their own families. Here’s the reframe I offer: 1) Receiving is part of stewardship. Givers often struggle to receive. But when you never ask, you remove your children’s opportunity to give to you. Offer structured choices and concrete time blocks so they can put it on the calendar. 2) Let “no” be an honest answer. Sons are heads of their households; sometimes the right answer is no. Don’t take it personally. Use that no to pursue other provision: church friends, paid caregivers, wider community. The need you identified is respite—find it. 3) Take one action step. After the call I ask, “What is the one action step you will take?” Start with your children; if they can’t, line up help elsewhere. Longitudinal support matters—join early so you’re not guessing alone. If you want steady, faith-centered help, the Christian DigniCare Society offers lifetime access, monthly AMAs, prayer, and a curated library—plus a 15-minute welcome call if you join before year-end. Or come to Ask the Dementia Coach live on September 20. You don’t have to carry this alone.   💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?✝️ Speak Calm, Not Just WordsGet “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.✅ 10 ready-to-use scripts✅ Rooted in Scripture✅ Built on the Therapeutic Truth-Telling™ model📥 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.🗓️ Brought to you every month!🎤 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✅ Practical tools✅ Faith-informed strategies✅ Same-day results🎟️ 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