Hirotaka Tsuchida
Hyogo Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Liaison Association

Introduction

My name is Hirotaka Tsuchida, and I am a member of the Hyogo Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Liaison Association. Seventeen years ago, I fell from a high place while at work and fractured my neck. At that time, I damaged my fourth cervical cord. This resulted in the loss of movement in both my arms and legs. Since 2012, I have been living alone with the assistance of a caregiver dispatch service.

Interaction with CaregiversIt has been 10 years since I started living alone in 2022. Throughout this time, many caregivers have been involved in supporting my daily life. Even after 10 years, I still have many challenges and worries in my relationships with them. Even though these people have been coming over for a long time, it doesn’t mean that everything in our relationship is alright. I still don’t like the idea of having someone enter my private space daily at my home. I also do not see eye-to-eye with everyone and sometimes do not get along well with them. There are things that make me angry or frustrated. Considering the power balance, there are times when I, as the weaker party in the relationship, feel it might be a case of power harassment. However, I chose this lifestyle myself, so it's not entirely fair to blame others. I also realize that I may have made remarks that could be perceived as power harassment toward the caregivers.

Considering the Other Person

In the past, I used to always think about everything from my own perspective, such as “If it were me, I would do this, or why can’t that person do this simple thing.” However, I have come to realize that I do indeed have weaknesses and things I cannot do alone. Conversely, I think caregivers who can do things I am not good at or cannot do are great, and I try to learn from them. Furthermore, I began to think that since there were things I was not good at and could not do, it was only natural for the caregivers to have limitations as well. With this mindset, I have become less irritated and more capable of considering things from various perspectives. Of course, there are still times when I get frustrated, but I no longer make unreasonable demands, but I believe that I have become more proactive in giving care instructions myself.

In Conclusion

I think there are many individuals with disabilities living alone who struggle with their relationships with caregivers. There are no specific solutions for this. People have different personalities, and their perceptions and interpretations also vary. This can be both a positive and negative aspect. It is important to think equally and consider how we would feel in the same situation. Before making a remark, take a moment to think. Suggest alternative approaches. Value the atmosphere of the moment. However, it is also important to express things that bother us. Adjust the way we communicate based on the individual. It requires effort and creativity, but I want to protect myself while also protecting the caregivers and enjoy living alone happily.

Shopping with my caregiver

Watching an NBA game in Los Angeles