Caregivers:Telling the Truth to your Advantage

Caregivers have Opinions.

I don’t mind that they have them just some opinions are like throwing gasoline on a fire to put it out. No amount will extinguish the flames but people who do it will insist they’re doing nothing wrong.

People are free to say what’s on their mind in a free country.

They're people who not only look after someone but who look out for them. Keeping them safe physical and mentally so they can have the chance to rehabilitate. They encourage growth at all levels with positive not negative "limiting" words dressed up as the “Truth”.

Telling the “truth” is more or less something the “teller” says based on what they know, have experienced, read or heard about from someone they trust.

So “truth” is actually just an opinion based on what someone thinks they know and is not a black and white science.

An example would be witness statements at a crime scene. They can vary widely base on what the person’s perspective is.

A short person might say the criminal was tall but the tall person would say the criminal was of average height both statements base on whether they had to look up and down.

Both are telling the truth but both statements are misleading.

To tell a survivor they’ll just have to get used to that blind spot, or that arm pain or any one of the thousands or things caused by their stroke or brain injury may be "truth" based on past experience but that doesn’t mean no one gets better.

“Get used to it”, is a Negative and “let’s work on ways of improving your situation”, is a Positive. What are you saying to the person you’re caring for?

Every find yourself saying something and when you’re questioned about it you say, “I didn’t mean you”. Caught and guilty as charged with making a Negative Statement to a survivor who has to rely on you.

It’s the old, “Make sure you load your brain before shooting your mouth off,” statement. You had the best of intentions but didn’t think through how it would effect the person you’re looking after.

So how can you as a caregiver take advantage of your own opinion and turn the truth into a positive? Have the researchers giving up looking for new ways to rehabilitate those left with a deficit? No they haven’t giving up so don’t you.

The person you’re looking after needs hope from you so freely give it. Your survivors experience is different from all others (every stroke is different) so who knows where a positive opinion can take both of you!

This could change the mood and outlook on life for both of you. Wouldn’t it be nice for both of you to wake up excited by the possibilities of this new day?

No matter what you did before, it’s time to “Tell the Truth (opinion) to your Advantage (positive spin) and truly be a Caregiver!




"I Had a Stroke" a book by Jim Pettitt.

Taking the reader from "He won't live overnight" to "whole" again. The challenges and solutions to being not able to move the left side of his body, talk, read and may other deficits.

Great motivation for both survivors and caregivers.




"I believe that your creator spared you because he knew what a fighter you would be to become the miracle that you are today. Anyone who reads this book, or has the book read to them is going to be going WOW......he can do it, so can I! I did not have a stroke, but that is the effect it had on me and the challenges I face." Cindy - NC

Click on Book

From Caregivers to Home




Comment