Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians: Conversations for Christian Caregivers Seeking Clarity and Faithful Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Decisions

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Are You a Christian Family Caregiver Feeling Worn Thin by Dementia or Alzheimer’s?
You’re not the first Christian caregiver to face this—and you don’t have to guess your way through it.

Welcome to Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, the podcast that helps you stop guessing in the fog, see what’s actually happening, and learn how to steward this season faithfully with Christ-centered care.

Whether you’re a spouse, adult child, or family member trying to walk this journey faithfully, this show meets you at the intersection of practical dementia guidance and biblical clarity for real caregiving decisions—so you can care for your loved one while protecting your marriage, honoring your responsibilities, and remaining anchored in truth

Here, we answer the questions Christian caregivers are actually asking:
✅ What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and how can I prepare for each stage as a caregiver?
✅ How do I survive dementia caregiving without burnout?
✅ How do I handle aggressive or challenging dementia behaviors – like hitting, yelling, or refusing care?
✅ What is sundowning and how can I manage it?
✅ When is it time to move my loved one to a memory care facility or nursing home?
✅ Why does my loved one with dementia keep asking the same questions repeatedly, and how should I respond?
✅ How can I get my loved one with dementia to bathe or maintain hygiene when they resist?
✅ How do I prevent my loved one from wandering or getting lost?
✅ How do I balance caring for my loved one and other responsibilities (kids, job, spouse) without feeling guilty?
✅ What does dementia caregiving look like from a Christian perspective?
✅ How can I maintain my faith and trust in God while caring for someone with dementia?
✅ Why would God allow my loved one to suffer from Alzheimer’s?
✅ How can I cope with caregiver guilt as a Christian?
✅ What does the Bible say about honoring and caring for elderly parents with dementia?
✅ How do I care for my parent with dementia without losing my marriage?

This podcast isn’t just about surviving—it’s about stewarding.

Because caregiving isn’t a detour from your life. It’s part of your calling.
Each episode offers:
✔️ Biblical clarity in the middle of emotional fog
✔️ Practical, research-informed strategies you can actually use
✔️ Guidance that honors your loved one and protects your most important relationships
✔️ Peace that comes from clear discernment, faithful obedience, and knowing you are not carrying this outside of Christ’s care

You won’t find sugarcoating here. You’ll find real help, thoughtful reflection, and truth rooted in Scripture—spoken plainly, practically, and with care.

🎧 Subscribe now to Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians and take the next faithful step forward—with peace, purpose, and a voice you can trust.
📍 Find free resources and tools at: ThinkDifferentDementia.com
📧 Email: lizette@thinkdifferentdementia.com
🙏 May the Lord bless and keep you—and I’ll see you in the next episode.

Episodes

Friday Nov 28, 2025

307. Grateful for a Role You Never Wanted: What God Teaches Christian Caregivers Through Dementia

Friday Nov 28, 2025

What if the very thing you never wanted is exactly where God grows you?

I share the behind-the-scenes journey of how this podcast became unapologetically Christian—and what God has taught me through two years of walking beside dementia caregivers like you.

If you feel like you didn’t sign up for this, you’re not alone. But here's the truth: God doesn’t waste your pain. He’s using even this season to shape you.

Here are the three things I’ve learned:

1. God Won’t Stay in the Background.
He calls us to be visible with our faith—even in the hard, messy parts of dementia caregiving. You don’t have to do this alone or quietly.

2. Obedience Brings Clarity—But Also Conflict.
Spiritual warfare is real. When we step out with biblical clarity, conflict may increase—but so does the peace of knowing you’re walking in truth.

3. God Grows You for a Role You Didn’t Choose.
I never wanted to be a pastor’s wife or run a Christian dementia podcast. But looking back, I’m grateful. God has carried me—and He’ll carry you too.

You don’t have to pretend this is easy. But you also don’t have to carry it alone.

Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools.
https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds

💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?
Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.
📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script

🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This 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

Tuesday Nov 25, 2025

306. How to Use Long-Term Care Insurance Without Fear for Christian Caregivers

Tuesday Nov 25, 2025

Does using your long-term care insurance feel like giving up? If so, you're not alone.

In this episode, Anne shares the emotional weight she carries as a wife caring for her husband with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Like many Christian caregivers, Anne wrestles with money fears, medical chaos, and legal roadblocks—all while trying to hold her faith steady.

She’s approved for long-term care insurance, but a quiet fear holds her back: “What if I run out of money? What if I make the wrong decision?”

That’s exactly why we had this conversation.

Here are three key takeaways:

1. Use the Policy — It's Provision, Not Waste.
Anne had already met the requirements. It was time to start using what she’d paid into. Stewardship doesn’t mean hoarding. It means wisely applying the resources God has provided.

2. Secure Legal Protection Early.
Missing paperwork meant Anne had to pursue conservatorship. If you’ve got family “wingnuts” in the wings, you need clarity and a good elder care attorney now—not later.

3. You’re Shepherding a Soul, Not Just Managing Symptoms.
Dementia changes the brain, yes—but it doesn’t erase sin. Anne was reminded that her caregiving is a spiritual calling: to keep pointing her husband back to Christ.

If you’re drowning in the “what ifs,” this episode will help you come up for air. There is order in this journey—because God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Don’t walk alone. The Christian DigniCare Society (lifetime, under $100) gives you community, coaching, prayer, and practical tools.
https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/cds

❤️ 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

Friday Nov 21, 2025

305. How Christian Caregivers Can Reduce the Load When Family Needs Keep Growing

Friday Nov 21, 2025

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

❤️ 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

Tuesday Nov 18, 2025

304. Can a Christian Caregiver Move a Parent With Dementia Who Refuses? — Understanding Capacity and Competency

Tuesday Nov 18, 2025

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

❤️ 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

Friday Nov 14, 2025

303. How Christian Caregivers Can Prepare Wisely When Dementia Begins — Medicaid Planning Basics

Friday Nov 14, 2025

“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

❤️ 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

Tuesday Nov 11, 2025

302. How to Stop Fearing the Future Dementia Decline — Christian Caregivers and Anticipatory Grief

Tuesday Nov 11, 2025

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

❤️ 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

Friday Nov 07, 2025

301. How to Advocate When Doctors Don’t Listen: Speak Healthcare, Protect Dignity

Friday Nov 07, 2025

“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

❤️ 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

Tuesday Nov 04, 2025

300. Stop “Therapeutic Lying”: How to Answer “I Want to Go Home” with Truth and Grace

Tuesday Nov 04, 2025

“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

❤️ 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

Friday Oct 31, 2025

299. Talking to Your Brother About Mom’s Dementia — How to Share Concerns Without Causing Conflict

Friday Oct 31, 2025

“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

❤️ 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

Tuesday Oct 28, 2025

298. How Younger Spousal Caregivers Can Plan Wisely for the Future — Finding Peace Instead of Guilt

Tuesday Oct 28, 2025

“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

❤️ 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

It's time to chose ease...

Are you a family caregiver who is dealing with dementia in your life and you feel overwhelmed with the never-ending challenges you face, and don’t know where to turn for help?

Are you searching for answers to your questions about dementia, joining countless Facebook groups but find them toxic and a waste of your precious time?

Do you want to face your dementia caregiving journey in a proactive way, but feel confused about where to even start?

Are you juggling your marriage, your kids, your work, your faith and your loved one’s life and still feel like you are letting everyone down?

Learning the skills you need to simplify your dementia caregiving may seem hard.

But not learning the skills you need to simplify your dementia caregiving journey will be even harder.

It is time to choose your “hard”.

The choice is 100% yours.

I know what I chose: I chose to have ease in my dementia caregiving journey.

Hey, Dementia Success Seeker!

I’m Lizette Cloete. 30 + year veteran occupational therapist turned into a dementia educator, coach and consultant and I am a daughter of dementia.

In this podcast you will learn the truth that the only way to increase the ease of your dementia caregiving journey rests squarely in YOUR hands.

The way you actively prepare and what you believe about dementia caregiving makes all the difference.

>>>You will gain the practical skills you need to simplify care.

>>>You will be challenged by what it means to be a successful caregiver, teaching you to harness the power of the most powerful caregiving tool that you have: your mindset.

>>>And you will learn exactly what dementia is (and is not), how dementia changes the brain and what you can expect next in your dementia caregiving journey.

You will find a community of like minded family caregivers, helping someone with dementia and you will not be alone anymore.

My mission is to help the unsung heroes who are in the midst of dementia caregiving, with the skills to simplify your dementia care journey so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and burn out.

I help you find clarity and certainty using the latest evidence based research, so you have perseverance for this marathon.

I approach dementia caregiving using faith informed principles that allow you to navigate this journey with peace of mind.

So, warm up your coffee, grab a notebook and pen and be ready to be a Dementia Success Seeker.

It’s time to choose your easy.