Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians: Tips for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregivers to Manage Stress, Prevent Burnout & Handle Difficult Behaviors

“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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 rises Frustration 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 day Practice 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Words 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. ✅ 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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 Words 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. ✅ 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 Alone Join 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 Heard Bring 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