Abstract:
As someone fortunate enough to grow up with grandparents who live just fifteen minutes away, I have watched them both struggle and thrive as they age mentally and physically. My grandmother has been diagnosed with severe Parkinson’s disease as well as rheumatoid arthritis and other various autoimmune diseases that leave her bed ridden most of the time. My grandfather wears a pacemaker to regulate his chronic heart problems, yet I have never once heard them complain about their health issues. The intangible strength present within my grandparents’ experiences inspired me to create this piece. Through a series of short conversations with my grandmother, who I call Nani, and my grandfather, who I call Nana, I created a podcast that focuses on my grandparents’ experiences in the U.S. healthcare system as immigrants. Specifically, I examine how their relationships and attitudes toward healthcare systems changed as a result of their immigration to America. This year brought new hobbies into my life – listening to podcasts being one of them. Some of the sources that I drew inspiration from include podcasts that discuss race/racism in medicine such as “We Live Here” and “This American Life.” These podcasts do an exceptional job of tying in organic, human-centered experiences in their discussion of healthcare, education, and economics. Another source I found interesting was a blog post written by the American Society of Aging on the barriers that older immigrants face in health. I was particularly inspired by how this blog concluded on a very hopeful, uplifting note and reminded the audience of the rich diversity that immigrants bring to the U.S. I am hoping to have a similar ending to my podcast.
When creating the podcasts, I asked them open-ended questions about their healthcare experiences in India compared to those in the U.S. and had them share anecdotes from different points in their lives. My goal was to capture a raw, honest snapshot from two individuals who have experienced multiple healthcare systems and whose memory of events have evolved as a result of their aging. Through this piece, I hope to highlight the obstacles my grandparents have faced getting care here in the U.S. I also think it is equally, and arguably more important, to draw out the successes they have had since their immigration to the U.S from India with the hopes of really bringing out the grit and resilience that exists within immigrant populations.
Podcast Link:
anchor.fm/through-naniandnanas-eyes
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