Mi Shebeirach for Someone Living with Dementia

A prayer for a loved one living with dementia, and for the family member who sits beside them.

Mi shebeirach avoteinu v’imoteinu,

May the One who blessed our fathers and mothers,

Bless my dad,

Whose memories are fading,

Whose words sometimes wander,

Whose mind no longer works

As beautifully as it once did.

Though he may no longer remember my name,

May he still recognize the warmth of my voice,

The tenderness of my touch,

And see the love in my eyes.

And when I walk into the room,

And his face lights up,

Let that joy be enough for both of us.

Rofei HaCholim, Healer of the Sick,

Though there may be no cure,

Still, I pray for refuah (healing):

For moments of calm amid confusion,

For comfort when the world feels unfamiliar,

For dignity in his days,

And for gentle, loving hands to care for him.

Bless me, too,

As I watch the father I have always known

Slowly slip beyond my reach.

When he cannot remember,

Help me remember for us both.

When I ache for the father he once was,

Help me love the father who is still here.

Mi shebeirach imoteinu v’avoteinu,

May the One who blessed our mothers and fathers

Bless him with refu'at hanefesh (healing of the soul),

With peace in his heart,

So that even when he no longer remembers who I am,

He may still feel how deeply he is loved.

V'nomar: Amen.