Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians: Conversations for Christian Caregivers Seeking Clarity and Faithful Dementia & Alz

Lizette Cloete, Christian Dementia Coach
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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.

  1. 5D AGO

    327. How Christian Caregivers Try to Manage Dementia at Home When the Real Decision Is Structural.

    You feel the shift but you can’t quite name it. The updates sound small: weight loss, increased sleep, a fall getting out of the car, a medication change. But something feels heavier than the facts themselves. In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we address what often goes unspoken: when dementia care at home stops working, the problem is rarely about medication or falls. It is about structure. If you are a Christian caregiver trying to manage rising care needs from a distance or while coordinating family members  this episode will help you identify where the real decision lives and what responsibility now exists. God is not a God of confusion. And faithful caregiving requires ordered responsibility. What This Episode Covers Why increased symptoms may signal a structural shift — not just a care management problem How to recognize when dementia progression requires a change in care structure The hidden decision beneath medication adjustments and fall prevention Why research and “doing more” can delay necessary decisions A biblical framework for making facility-based care decisions How to act before crisis forces the timeline Timestamps 00:00 – The phone call that doesn’t sit right 02:35 – Why this isn’t a medication management problem 05:32 – The real issue: dementia progression and structural strain 08:56 – Who controls the timeline — you or crisis? 12:05 – God is a God of order, not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) 15:31 – How to locate where your decision actually lives Not Every Problem Is a Management Problem Weight loss. Falls. Increased sleep. Medication changes. These are progression indicators. If you attempt to solve them only at the surface level, you may miss the deeper structural shift occurring underneath. When dementia care at home stops working, tightening systems will not restore a stage that has already changed. The Real Decision May Be About Timeline For some families, facility-based care is hypothetical. For others, it has already been decided — just not implemented. The question becomes: Will you choose the moment? Or will crisis choose it for you? Avoiding the decision does not eliminate it. It simply transfers control of timing. Information Is Not the Same as Clarity Many Christian caregivers believe they lack information. Often, they lack clarity about which decision must be made now. Research can feel productive. But if you are solving at the wrong level, clarity will remain elusive. Faithful caregiving is ordered responsibility not endless management. God Is a God of Order “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33 This does not promise ease. It does not reverse dementia. It does not remove loss. It does mean that even here, decisions can be made in order. Your responsibility is obedience within your role — not controlling outcomes. Who This Episode Is For Adult children managing long-distance dementia caregiving Christian caregivers sensing a shift but unsure how to respond Families considering facility-based care but delaying implementation Those stuck between respecting wishes and recognizing progression If you are working hard to make the current system hold together, this episode will help you determine whether the structure itself needs to change. Key Takeaways When dementia care at home stops working, the problem is often structural not logistical. Progression requires adjustment. Denial delays order. Facility-based care decisions are about timing and stewardship. Relief comes from correctly identifying the level of the decision. Faithfulness means acting within responsibility not guaranteeing outcomes. If this episode clarified something you’ve been circling, take the next step. Schedule a DigniCare™ Solutions Session to identify where your decision actually lives and determine the next faithful action. https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/ If this episode was helpful: Subscribe to the podcast Leave a review to help other Christian caregivers find biblical clarity Share this episode with someone navigating dementia caregiving

    17 min

  2. FEB 10

    326. How Christian Caregivers Evaluate Ministry After Dementia Redefines What’s Possible

    When dementia advances, many Christian caregivers attempt to keep serving as if nothing has changed—especially in church and ministry roles. This episode addresses a common and pressing caregiving decision: how to respond faithfully when caregiving responsibility begins to govern what is possible. This conversation walks through a real scenario involving a Christian husband caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s while continuing significant church ministry commitments. The issue is not burnout, emotion, or lack of faith. The issue is where responsibility now lives—and what can no longer remain indirect. What This Conversation Clarifies Dementia reorders responsibility before it announces itself Tension often comes from a gap between expectation and reality Ministry commitments must be re-evaluated when caregiving becomes governing Faithfulness requires alignment, not endurance of misfit There are only two faithful options when reality changes—and avoiding both increases strain Highlights 0:00 Why serving as if nothing has changed no longer works 2:00 The real problem is responsibility, not emotion or fatigue 5:06 Ministry service meets caregiving limitation 7:41 Why in-home help doesn’t work when dementia resists “help” 12:57 Caregiver capacity matters over the long road 15:49 The two options that close the expectation–reality gap Key Takeaways for Listeners Dementia caregiving decisions must be made based on reality, not preference Church ministry cannot remain unchanged when caregiving responsibility has shifted Reducing commitments is not failure; it is reordering responsibility Loved one happiness is not the sole authority in care planning Faithfulness means seeing clearly, obeying responsibly, and stewarding limits over time When dementia has already changed what’s possible, clarity—not endurance—is what’s needed next. If you’re carrying real caregiving responsibility and a decision can’t remain delayed, a DigniCare™ Solutions Session provides clear, bounded advisory direction. 15 minutes One caregiving problem No intake, no emotional processing No obligation This is decision advising for Christian caregivers who need to identify where responsibility now lives and what must be reordered faithfully. 👉 Schedule your DigniCare™ Solutions Session here: https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session

    21 min

  3. FEB 3

    325. How Christian Caregivers Handle It When Their Loved One Tells the Doctor Things That Aren’t True

    What do you do when your loved one confidently tells the doctor things you know aren’t true? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we address one of the most common and morally weighty dementia caregiving situations: doctor appointments where truth, honor, and safety collide. This conversation is not about better communication skills or finding the “right words.” It is about understanding the real decision Christian caregivers are carrying when dementia affects insight, memory, and self-reporting. If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office feeling unsettled, unsure, or replaying the conversation over and over, this episode helps you clearly name the responsibility—and prepare before the next appointment. Key Topics Covered in This Episode Why dementia-related dishonesty at doctor appointments is not a communication problem The biblical tension between speaking the truth in love and honoring your parent or spouse How dignity is grounded in the image of God, not cognitive ability Why freezing or staying silent is often a sign of unidentified responsibility How to approach doctor visits with clarity before you walk into the room When a DigniCare™ Solutions Session is the appropriate next step Episode Highlights 1:16 – Why caregivers often don’t know what to do at doctor appointments 3:55 – The collision between honoring your loved one and telling the truth 6:22 – Why this is not a communication problem, but a responsibility problem 8:37 – Dignity, truth, and safety: what the doctor actually needs to know 12:19 – Why leaving the doctor’s office unsettled is a signal, not a failure Key Takeaways for Christian Dementia Caregivers Dementia does not remove dignity, autonomy, or personhood. Doctors rely on accurate information to protect safety and guide care. Feeling frozen in the moment usually means the decision was never named ahead of time. Faithfulness is not decided in real time—it is prepared for in advance. This situation requires clarity, not better wording or emotional processing. If this episode clarified something you’ve been carrying, please: Subscribe to Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians Leave a review so other Christian caregivers can find this guidance Share this episode with someone facing an upcoming doctor appointment And if this situation reflects a real decision you cannot delay, a DigniCare™ Solutions Session exists specifically to help you determine what to do before the next appointment. https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/

    18 min

  4. JAN 27

    324. How Christian Caregivers Make Wise Safety Decisions When You Suspect Dementia AND Clarity Is Missing

    When you live across the country, it’s easy to assume responsibility can remain indirect. But what happens when safety is compromised—and delay is no longer faithful? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, Lizette speaks with Anna, a Christian mother navigating long-distance caregiving, an aging parent, and the safety of her autistic adult daughter. Together, they address a hard but necessary question: When does indirect caregiving responsibility expire? This episode offers biblical clarity for caregivers who are carrying responsibility without control—and feeling the pressure rise. Key Topics Covered Long-distance dementia caregiving and hidden risk Safety responsibility without physical presence When assumptions about care break down Managing care with an unbelieving parent Clarifying responsibility vs. waiting for change Protecting an adult child when judgment is unreliable Advisory Lens  Safety exposes responsibility Behavior matters more than diagnosis Faithfulness requires action, not certainty You cannot outsource protection indefinitely Time-Stamped Highlights  00:00–05:00 Distance caregiving and the illusion of indirect responsibility 05:00–10:00 When safety becomes the pressure point that exposes everything 10:00–15:00 No diagnosis, conflicting behavior, and unreliable judgment 15:00–20:00 Clarifying who is actually responsible for protection and follow-through 20:00–25:00 Shifting from assumed care to concrete safety strategies Key Takeaways for Listeners Distance does not remove responsibility—it removes visibility Safety cannot remain assumed once risk is known Waiting for better communication is not a plan You cannot expect an unbeliever to act like a believer Faithful caregiving prioritizes protection over agreement Clarity reduces emotional pressure by naming responsibility If this episode clarified something you’ve been carrying quietly, share it with another Christian caregiver who may be managing care from a distance. ✔ Subscribe to Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians ✔ Leave a review to help other caregivers find biblical clarity ✔ Visit https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/ to schedule a DigniCare™ Solutions Session when a decision or conversation can no longer wait

    24 min

  5. JAN 23

    323. How Christian Caregivers Accept Being a Dementia Caregiver and Mistake Acceptance for Action

    Acceptance won’t organize your next step—and waiting to “feel ready” is often how faithful Christian caregivers stay stuck. In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we name the problem plainly: acceptance was mistaken for action, and responsibility stayed unordered. You can stop fighting reality and still delay the decisions that can’t be deferred—because emotions quietly become permission-givers. You’ll hear a clear distinction between accepting the assignment and taking ordered action, why “waiting for peace” is not the same as faithfulness, and what to do when the responsibility has outgrown what one person can carry alone. Memorable line: “Acceptance assigns responsibility. It does not imply emotional relief.” Key topics covered Why acceptance is not action in dementia caregiving How emotions become permission (“If the heaviness is still there, you wait…”) When “waiting” is actually immobilization (fear of making the wrong decision) Why this is a responsibility-ordering problem, not a faith problem Two paths forward: carry it alone (increasing strain) or get bounded counsel (ordered next steps) A sober reminder: not making a decision is still a decision Timestamps  00:00 — Acceptance isn’t action (why you can accept and still stay stuck) 02:12 — Why caregivers don’t need more info; they need space to act 06:01 — Defining biblical acceptance: entrusted responsibility, not emotional relief 20:48 — The real issue: responsibility exceeding what one person can carry 30:06 — What a DigniCare™ Solutions Session is (and what it is not) Need help ordering one decision right now? If responsibility is present and one conversation or decision can’t be delayed, schedule a DigniCare™ Solutions Session: 15 minutes, one problem, clear advisory direction (no intake, no emotional processing, no obligation). 🔗 https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/ #DementiaCaregiving #ChristianCaregiver #AcceptanceIsNotAction #CaregivingDecisions #BiblicalWisdom

    36 min

  6. JAN 20

    322. How Christian Caregivers Can Stop Burning Out When Church Ministry Collides With Dementia Care — Practical Steps to Set Boundaries Without Guilt

    What happens when two faithful responsibilities no longer fit together? In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we walk through a real advisory conversation with Doris—a wife caring for her husband with dementia while carrying long-standing church ministry leadership. Nothing has broken. No crisis has forced a decision. But the weight has changed. This episode is not about emotions or burnout. It is about discernment, responsibility, and stewardship when dementia quietly reshapes what faithfulness requires. Who This Episode Is For Christian spouses caring for a loved one with dementia Caregivers carrying ministry or volunteer leadership Believers facing decisions they’ve been avoiding because nothing feels “bad enough” Church members struggling to name limits without guilt Time-Stamped Episode Highlights 0:00–2:45 When Nothing Breaks but the Weight Shifts 2:45–6:03 Discernment Before Resolution and Doris’s Reality 6:03–9:52 Time vs. Burden and the Unspoken Decision 9:52–13:01 Naming Dementia Clearly and When No One Steps Up 13:01–16:36 When Clarity Replaces Reassurance Episode Insights Dementia often changes responsibility long before it creates crisis Faithfulness does not mean indefinite endurance Participation in ministry is not the same as responsibility for ministry Unspoken limits are not limits Church leadership must carry what belongs to the church Obedience is required; outcomes belong to God Key Takeaways for Christian Caregivers If you are waiting for permission, relief, or a clearer sign—this episode explains why those often never come. What does come is responsibility. And responsibility must be named. Clarity does not promise ease. It provides direction.   If this episode surfaced a decision you can no longer defer, a DigniCare™ Solutions Session offers clear, focused advisory guidance. 15 minutes. One issue. Faithful direction. Not therapy. Not emotional processing. No obligation. Schedule at https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/thinkdifferentdementia.com If this episode was helpful: ✔ Subscribe to Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians ✔ Leave a review to help other caregivers find clarity ✔ Share this episode with a caregiver or church leader walking this road

    17 min

  7. JAN 16

    321. 5 Ways How Faithful Christian Caregivers Get Stuck — Even When Their Theology Is Sound

    Faithful Christian caregivers don’t get stuck because they lack faith or biblical conviction. They get stuck when true beliefs are applied without wisdom. In this episode of Dementia Caregiver Support for Christians, we name five common ways faithful caregivers quietly become trapped—not by rebellion, but by misapplied perseverance, silence, fear, emotional over-identification, and endurance without discernment. This episode brings biblical clarity to the realities of dementia caregiving and explains why wisdom—not more pressure—is what faithfulness actually requires. Episode Takeaways  Faithfulness does not mean doing everything alone Perseverance without evaluation leads to burnout Silence is not submission when truth is required Waiting can be a decision rooted in fear Compassion must be ordered to endure Wisdom seeks counsel it does not isolate Time-Stamped Episode Highlights 00:00–02:45 — Why Faithful Caregivers Get Stuck 02:46–07:15 — Perseverance Used to Justify Unsustainable Burdens 07:16–11:10 — Submission Confused with Silence in Hard Conversations 11:11–14:40 — Humility Turning into Fear of Making Decisions 14:41–18:25 — Compassion Becoming Emotional Over-Identification 18:26–End — Faith Measured by Endurance Instead of Discernment Who This Episode Is For Christian spouses caring for a partner with dementia Adult children overwhelmed by responsibility and decision-making Caregivers experiencing spiritual fatigue or burnout Believers who want biblical clarity, not emotional platitudes If you are stuck with one caregiving problem—a burden, conversation, decision, or emotional strain—you don’t need more content. You need clarity. A DigniCare™ Solutions Session is a 15-minute advisory call focused on: Diagnosing one specific caregiving problem Identifying three faithful, practical options Clarifying the next wise step—without escalation 👉 Learn more at https://thinkdifferentdementia.thrivecart.com/dignicare-solutions-session/

    25 min

  8. JAN 13

    320. How Christian Caregivers Can Respond Wisely When Mom Can’t Ask for Help —Recognizing When Safety Requires Constant Supervision

    There comes a moment in dementia caregiving when the risks are no longer theoretical. Mom cannot ask for help. Hygiene is compromised. Wandering is no longer a concern it is happening. In this episode, we walk with Angie as she begins to see clearly what many caregivers sense long before they name it: a threshold has been crossed. Not a medical threshold. A stewardship one. This is not an episode about making decisions. It is an episode about recognizing reality without rushing toward emotional relief. If you are carrying two households, navigating family dynamics, or quietly wondering whether uninterrupted supervision is already required — this conversation will help you name what you are seeing. This episode centers on three critical realities Christian caregivers must face honestly: When a person with dementia cannot ask for help, safety is already compromised Recognition of family members is not the marker for care transitions Uninterrupted supervision is a stewardship issue, not a failure of love or faith Rather than offering solutions, this conversation models discernment before Christ — slowing down, telling the truth, and preparing for the conversations that must come next. Episode Highlights 0:00 – The Risks Are Already Here 1:25 – Why DigniCare Foundations Exists 2:18 – The Supervision Threshold Explained 3:40 – Angie’s Caregiving Reality 7:41 – Hygiene, Toileting, and Supervision Needs 10:18 – The “We’ll Know When She Doesn’t Recognize Us” Assumption 13:04 – Your Mom Already Needs 24-Hour Supervision” Key Episode Insights  Dementia care decisions are stewardship questions, not medical ones Wandering and hygiene decline are cumulative safety markers Recognition of people or place is not a reliable decision-making metric Power of attorney and elder care law conversations should begin before crisis Faithfulness often begins with naming reality, not resolving it Key Takeaway for Christian Caregivers When uninterrupted supervision is required, faithfulness shifts form. This does not mean peace will come quickly. It does not mean decisions must be made today. It does mean that pretending the threshold has not been crossed will increase suffering  for everyone. God is not a God of confusion. Clarity is not unkind. Truth is not abandonment. If you are realizing that uninterrupted supervision may already be required — and you need help slowing this down before decisions demand answers — DigniCare Society: Foundations exists for exactly this moment. You are welcome to join when you are ready. https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join 💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard? Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments. 📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script 🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This 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 🧭 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.

    30 min
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About

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.

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