Physical Health Kenya Project #70939

Reimagining Elder Care in Kenya With Geriatrics

by Agewatch Africa Foundation Limited

Summary

AgeWatch Africa proposes to transform an underutilized elder care home in Kisumu County, Western Kenya, into a fully functional Geriatric Health, Palliative, and Rehabilitation Center. The upgraded center will deliver affordable, holistic, and culturally sensitive healthcare for older adults-integrating medical, palliative, rehabilitative, dementia, mental health, nutritional, and counseling services. Aligned with Kenya's national health policies and the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030),

$50,000
total goal

$49,274
remaining

6
donors

0
monthly donors

10
months

Challenge

Many older persons in Western Kenya face preventable illnesses and limited access to specialized care. A residential home built to support them remains underused due to beliefs that institutional care means "abandoning elders." With few geriatric services and low awareness, the need for affordable, dignified elder care keeps rising. The WHO's Healthy Ageing Report (2021-2023) shows most older adults in low-income regions still lack adequate health and social support, a gap this project fills.

Solution

This project will repurpose the existing elder care home into a Geriatric and Palliative Health Centre offering both charitable and affordable care. It will provide medical, physiotherapy, and palliative services, plus caregiver training and community outreach. Partnerships with local health professionals and faith-based organizations will extend care access. With minimal renovation, the center will improve access to care and restore dignity for older persons in the community.

Long-Term Impact

The center will reach over 1,000 older persons and train 50 caregivers in geriatric and palliative care during its first year. Long term, it will model compassionate elder care, create local jobs, and foster positive views on aging. By reframing how communities see elder care, AgeWatch Africa aims to make aging a stage of dignity and respect, setting a new standard for geriatric and palliative care in Kenya.