Home visit blogs by Iowa students
(Photo by Prof Jo Eland)
“It just awes me when someone who is in such pain or is constantly taking care of others still makes it a point to ensure our comfort as a guest in their home,” writes CJ, a student from Iowa University who visited Trivandrum in December-January. The students took part in Pallium India’s home visit programs, and recorded their thoughts in a blog run by Professor Jo Eland.
“Family is so important and drives almost everything people do here. If a family member falls sick, then the family will quit jobs and do whatever it takes to stay home and care for their loved one. Caring for the sick is mostly left up to the women and today we saw daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, and female neighbors all play a role in patient care.”
Aparna, another student, writes, “It was difficult to restrain myself from blaming the family caretaker for the poor condition of the patient, but I tried to keep reminding myself that I would never know how it feels to be in their shoes and what they are going through.”
For most of us at Pallium India, seeing everything through the eyes of these students is a learning experience too. Please read all the blogs at http://elandphoto.com/
Every year, a team of students from Iowa University, accompanied by their Professors, Dr Jo Eland and Dr Ann Broderick, visit Pallium India. In this cultural immersion course spanning three weeks, the students will learn palliative care in relation to health care in the country, and contribute what they can.
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