Prayer for Someone with Dementia
A prayer for those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, and for those who love and care for them — trusting that God sees the whole person even when the mind cannot.
The Prayer for Someone with Dementia is for those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, and for those who love and care for them. It trusts that God sees the whole person even when the mind cannot hold the memories. Caregiving is exhausting and often lonely, and this prayer gives voice to that. It reminds you that your loved one's dignity is not lost, and that you are not alone. Short phrases of comfort, familiar hymns and the Our Father are often remembered long after other words are lost. Ask the priest to visit and offer the sacraments. Take breaks yourself, accept help, and know that the love you show is itself a prayer that God receives.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayPrayer for Someone with Dementia
Lord Jesus,
You know this person — [name] — completely.
You know the person they were before this disease,
and You know who they are right now.
Even if they cannot remember their own name today,
You know it.
Even if they cannot recognize the faces of those who love them,
You see the love given and received across a lifetime.
Nothing that matters has been lost from Your sight.
Lord, be close to [name] in the confusion.
In the moments when they do not know where they are,
may they somehow feel that they are not alone.
In the fear, the agitation, the grief of lost words —
be near.
We ask for the grace to see in [name], still,
the person You made and love —
not just the disease, not just the difficulty,
but the soul made in Your image
who is still there, still Yours, still beloved.
Give patience and strength to those who care for [name].
The work is long, the losses are many,
and love is required on days when it costs everything.
Sustain them.
When the time comes, Lord, receive [name] fully —
into a mind restored, a memory made whole,
into the joy that no disease can touch.
Until then, we trust [name] to Your care.
Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the Prayer for Someone with Dementia?
Pray it daily, at bedtime and when a hard moment arrives.
How do I pray the Prayer for Someone with Dementia?
Read it quietly beside them, hold their hand and use simple loving words.
Who is the Prayer for Someone with Dementia for?
Families and caregivers of people with dementia.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play