Walk a mental mile

I’m sharing an article I wrote, Walk a mental mile in their shoes, for my column, Ask Veronica in the San Diego Union-Tribune.  I discussed the importance of gaining insight into another person’s plight in life to improve relationships.

In other words, gaining a different perspective can help both the caregiver and care recipient manage their caregiver exchange.

Gain perspective

Caregivers learn about their care recipient’s viewpoints by building trust and rapport through simple conversations. These chats can be a valuable tool for cultivating better caregiving relationships.

Family caregiving is difficult in the best of situations.

Knowledge of the other person’s point of view is helpful when creating family care plans. For example, understanding why someone’s behavior or special requirements make caregiving easier.  In other words, a better understanding of others develops better, more effective, and efficient care plans.

How to walk a mental mile

Caregiving requires family caregivers to navigate the needs of another human being in addition to their own. Caregivers operate in a broken, for-profit healthcare system that creates vulnerable people and “at-risk” situations.

All of this is difficult for both the caregivers and care recipients. Take the time to defuse situations, create better communication, and honor everyone in the caregiver exchange. Below are a few tips:

Remember that walking a mile in their shoes affords you a better understanding of the other person. It doesn’t mean that you abdicate your own beliefs and way of living. It’s just a tool for developing better negotiations and communication in your life.

You can read the article I shared on the link provided.  My storytelling article is another piece that provides insight into the caregiver exchange as well as demonstrating the gift of storytelling.

#caregiving #caregiversupport #askveronica #veronicamitchellwriter #familycaregivers #militarycaregivers

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune