Living With EOD | Early-Onset Dementia, Caregiver Overwhelm, Abandonment, Respite Care

About Living With EOD | Early-Onset Dementia, Caregiver Overwhelm, Abandonment, Respite Care

This podcast was born out of obedience to God. Out of a calling to step into what He placed on my heart long before I ever felt ready. If you are caring for a husband, parent, or loved one with early-onset dementia and you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, unseen, or spiritually drained, this space was created for you. Living with EOD: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout is a faith-centered podcast for Christian women navigating the daily realities of dementia caregiving. The constant decisions. The emotional grief. The guilt for needing rest. The quiet questions you whisper to God when no one else is listening. God sees you. He has heard your prayers. And He has not abandoned you in this season. Each episode offers biblical truth, practical encouragement, and spiritual grounding to help you move from survival mode to sustained strength without losing your faith, your identity, or yourself in the process. Inside this podcast, you’ll find: Biblical encouragement rooted in Scripture Honest conversations about caregiver burnout Faith-based tools to help you renew your mind and guard your heart Gentle reminders that you are not failing you are faithfully showing up Hope-filled perspective for a season that often feels heavy and lonely You don’t have to walk this journey alone. You don’t have to carry it all in your own strength. And you were never meant to pour from an empty cup. If you’re ready to feel seen, supported, and spiritually strengthened, this podcast is for you. Welcome to Living with EOD. Where faith meets caregiving. And burnout meets biblical truth.

Publisher

Tonya Lynn Derrick | Biblical Mindset and Purpose Coach

Category

education · kids & family · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Dec 2025

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   88. When Early Onset Dementia Steals Your Freedom: Finding Contentment in a Life You Didn't Choose

   Have you ever felt like dementia has taken away your freedom? The freedom to make spontaneous plans, leave the house without worrying, travel with your husband, or simply enjoy life without the constant weight of caregiving responsibilities? As an early-onset dementia caregiver, you may find yourself grieving not only the changes in your husband but also the life you thought you would have together. And sometimes, you might even wonder, "Is it wrong to want my old life back?" Care Champion, missing your freedom doesn't mean you love your husband any less. In today's episode of Living with EOD: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, we're exploring Philippians 4:11–13 and what the Apostle Paul teaches us about finding contentment in circumstances we never would have chosen. In this episode, you'll discover: Why grieving your lost freedom doesn't make you a selfish wife or caregiver. What biblical contentment really means and why it doesn't require you to be happy with your circumstances. How to stop putting your life on hold while waiting for dementia caregiving to become easier. How to surrender the life you expected without surrendering your hope in God. Three practical ways to reclaim small moments of freedom, practice gratitude, and find peace in your everyday life. Here's the truth: Contentment isn't pretending dementia hasn't changed your life. It's learning to trust God in the middle of those changes. You don't have to love this season to be faithful in it. And even when dementia changes your plans, your marriage, and your independence, God is still working in your life. Today's Anchor Scripture: Philippians 4:11–13 — Learning to be content in every circumstance through the strength Christ provides. Additional Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:1–4, John 10:10, Proverbs 3:5–6. Connect and Find Encouragement: Join our Facebook community, Living with Early Onset Dementia: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, where Christian dementia Care Champions find biblical encouragement, practical caregiving tools, and support from women who understand this journey. https://bit.ly/LivingWithEOD Sign up for my weekly newsletter delivered straight into your inbox, Hope on Repeat https://day2daywithtonyalynn.systeme.io/newsletter If this episode encouraged you, share it with another caregiver who may be struggling with the loss of independence and freedom. And don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more women find hope and encouragement. Remember, Care Champion, you may not have chosen this life, but you can choose to trust the God who walks with you through it. Faith. Strength. Purpose. One Surrendered Moment at a Time.

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   87. Am I Still His Wife, or Am I Just His Caregiver? Finding Connection in Your Marriage Through Early Onset Dementia

   Do you ever feel like you've become more of a caregiver than a wife? When early-onset dementia enters your marriage, everything begins to change. The conversations, companionship, shared responsibilities, and emotional connection you once relied on may slowly disappear. Instead of simply enjoying life together, you find yourself managing medications, appointments, finances, and everyday decisions. And somewhere in the middle of it all, you begin to wonder, Am I still his wife, or am I just his caregiver? In today's episode of Living with EOD: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, we're exploring how to preserve your identity as a wife, nurture meaningful connection, and grieve the marriage you miss without losing sight of the relationship you still have. Through Genesis 2:24, we're reminded that marriage is more than the responsibilities we share. It's a covenant before God, and although dementia changes how that marriage functions, it doesn't erase its value. In this episode, you'll discover: Why becoming your husband's caregiver doesn't mean you've stopped being his wife. How to recognize meaningful moments of connection even when communication and companionship change. Why grieving the marriage you once had doesn't mean you love your husband any less. Practical ways to create intentional moments together that aren't centered around caregiving. How to invite God into the changing seasons of your marriage and trust Him with what you cannot control. Scriptures referenced: Genesis 2:24 — Marriage as a covenant of unity. 1 Corinthians 13:4 — Love is patient and kind. Ecclesiastes 3:4 — There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near the brokenhearted. Colossians 3:14 — Love binds everything together in unity. Your Faith Challenge This Week Choose one small moment to connect with your husband without a caregiving agenda. Hold his hand, share a favorite memory, listen to music, or simply sit together. And ask God to help you recognize the love that remains, even when your marriage looks different than you imagined. Remember, Care Champion: Being his caregiver is something you do. Being his wife is part of the relationship you share. Dementia may change your marriage, but it cannot change God's faithfulness through it. Let's Stay Connected! Join our free Facebook community, Living with Early Onset Dementia: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, where Christian wives navigating early-onset dementia can find encouragement, biblical truth, and support from women who understand. https://bit.ly/LivingWithEOD Sign up for my weekly newsletter Hope on Repeat https://day2daywithtonyalynn.systeme.io/newsletter If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another dementia wife who needs reminding that she is more than her caregiving responsibilities. And don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help other care champions find hope in their journey. Faith. Strength. Purpose. One surrendered moment at a time.

3. 

   12 Oct 2026

   86. When Your Husband With Early Onset Dementia Becomes Someone You Care For Instead of Someone You Lean On

   Are you grieving the husband who used to be your partner, your support system, and the person you could always lean on? One of the hardest parts of early-onset dementia isn't just watching your husband change. It's realizing that the marriage you once knew is changing, too. The man who once helped make decisions, shared responsibilities, and walked beside you through life's challenges may now depend on you for many of those same things. And friend, that loss hurts. In today's episode of Living with EOD: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, we're talking about the emotional transition from wife and equal partner to caregiver, how to navigate the grief that comes with it, and how to lean on God's strength when you feel like everyone else is leaning on you. In this episode, you'll discover: Why it's okay to grieve the marriage you once had while still loving your husband deeply. How to rely on God's strength when caregiving responsibilities feel overwhelming. Why your husband is still more than his dementia diagnosis. How to release the future you imagined while remaining present in the marriage you have today. Three practical ways to nurture your relationship, acknowledge your grief, and find support. Scriptures referenced: Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 — There is a season for everything. John 11:35 — Jesus understands our sorrow. Psalm 34:18 — God is near the brokenhearted. Psalm 46:1 — God is our refuge and strength. Isaiah 41:10 — God promises to strengthen and uphold us. Genesis 1:27 — Our worth comes from being created in God's image. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 — Love is patient and kind. Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust the Lord even when you don't understand. Your Faith Challenge This Week: Take a few minutes to acknowledge what you're grieving, ask for help with one responsibility, and create one intentional moment to simply be your husband's wife instead of his caregiver. Remember, friend, your husband may no longer be the person you lean on the way you once did, but God has never stopped being your source of strength. Let's Stay Connected! Join our free Facebook community: Living with EOD: Biblical Solutions for Caregiver Burnout, where Christian dementia wives find biblical encouragement, practical caregiving tools, and a community of women who understand. https://bit.ly/LivingWithEOD Sign up for my weekly newsletter Hope on Repeat https://day2daywithtonyalynn.systeme.io/newsletter If today's episode encouraged you, share it with another dementia wife who needs to know she isn't walking this journey alone. And don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! One day at a time. One surrendered moment at a time. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Faith. Strength. Purpose.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

21 ratings

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Guest appearances

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