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This article is part of State of Health, a series about how Michigan communities are rising to address health challenges. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Imagine a grandmother going to the emergency room and relying on her 5-year-old grandchild to describe her symptoms and relate doctors’ questions and instructions. Consider how a busy young mother might put aside a pages-long renewal notice from Medicaid or WIC in a language she cannot read. Think about a 45-year-old man recovering from surgery and trying to manage his own aftercare when he can understand neither the verbal nor written instructions his medical team provides. These are just a few of the many challenging health care scenarios that play out for Michiganders who do not fluently speak or read English.