Training of family caregivers

Every new year, 1 million Kenyans are pushed below the poverty line by healthcare related costs. This is mainly fueled by the rise in prevalence of Non-communicable diseases like cancers, cardiovascular disorders e.t.c which have accounted for more than 50% of all hospital admissions. It gets worse when families living on less than a dollar a day are faced with a chronic illness and high healthcare costs.

We are bridging this gap for low income families and our main focus is in rural Kenya where when one family member is in need of long-term care, another family member is often available to provide untrained care. These are mainly unemployed women who step into the caregiving roles. Bena Care is leveraging on this by providing training of basic caregiving to these family caregivers where upon training these family caregivers can confidently step into their caregiving shoes, providing supportive care like wound care, vital taking, medication administration etc while Bena Care only comes in for service monitoring and clinical care at a cost of 2USD per day. At the end of care ,Bena Care onboards these family caregivers to our platform and connects them to the next family in need, where they can provide their services and earn an income. By converting family caregivers to community care champions we are successfully cascading healthcare down to the family unit where we can have positive health and social outcomes.

We target middle to low income families with chronically ill patients. These families are often financially and emotionally bankrupt due to the high cost of care. By introducing training to family caregivers, we are primarily ensuring that families are well educated to make the right health choices as well as comply to life saving medication. We also increase health outcomes by training family caregivers to offer better and informed supportive services as opposed to untrained caregiving that can be detrimental to the health of the patient. Further they are getting affordable monitoring of service through our large network of healthcare workers.

My team is made up of nurses and doctors who understand the context of Non- communicable diseases in our communities. Our lead nurse Rosemary has 38 years experience working with women caregivers in rural Kenya .We all believe that the problem we are solving is so complex and hence a do it alone approach will not cut it. We work with community gatekeepers like; chiefs, women leaders, religious leaders etc who introduce us to the communities in a way so we can gain the trust of the community first before anything. Our advertisement budget goes to holding free screening and health education for the communities where we target large community market days, gatherings and places of worship. By offering free screening of non-communicable diseases as well as health education, we get an understanding of the context with which the community operate hence we tailor-make solutions that are specifically approved by them

We have served 36,000 people and we serve an average of 2,000 people per month now

We recognize that we are solving the most complex challenge which is access to healthcare (in terms of geography, affordability and quality) we therefore are asking support in linking us to other social enterprises in healthcare where we can co-create potentially sustainable solutions and collaborate to amplify our impact. Further, we are in need of mentorship from experts in the field as well as exposure of our solution in order to attract the right partners to scale our solution.

Meeting an Underserved Need: There is a growing need for caregiving services as the population ages, and many families are finding themselves responsible for caring for chronically ill loved ones. Bena care addresses this need by providing training and support for family caregivers, which is currently underserved by traditional healthcare systems.

Cost-Effective Solution: By providing training to family caregivers, Bena Care offers a cost-effective solution for families who may otherwise have to rely on expensive healthcare services. This not only benefits families financially but also helps to lower overall healthcare costs.

Empowering Family Caregivers: Bena Care empowers family caregivers by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to provide the best care possible for their loved ones. This not only improves the quality of care but also helps to improve the overall health and well-being of both the caregiver and the patients

Bena Care is committed to improving access to affordable healthcare for all. Over the past five years, our efforts have resulted in significant positive impact. We have served 36,000 patients and saved them over 50M USD in healthcare costs. In addition, we have created employment opportunities for more than 9,000 healthcare workers.

Looking ahead, we aim to continue our impactful work and achieve even greater results over the next five years. By 2028, our goal is to serve an additional 300,000 patients and save them over 500M USD in healthcare costs. We also aim to provide employment opportunities for an additional 30,000 healthcare workers, bringing our total to over 40,000.

To achieve these goals, we plan to expand our services to more regions, increase awareness about our offerings, and develop strategic partnerships with government and private organizations. We also plan to invest in technology to improve the quality of care and efficiency of our operations.

At Bena Care, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the healthcare industry and the communities we serve. We believe that by working together, we can create a healthier and more equitable world for all.

Number of patients served

Amount of money saved for each patients and their families

Number of family caregivers trained

number of jobs created

Inputs:

• Trained healthcare professionals to provide caregiver training
• Curriculum and training materials for family caregivers
• Training facilities
• Funding for program implementation

Activities:

• Identify and recruit potential family caregivers
• Train family caregivers in providing supportive care to chronically ill patients
• Provide ongoing support and monitoring of caregivers and patients
• Collect feedback and data on the program's impact and make improvements as necessary

Outputs:

• Trained family caregivers who have the knowledge and skills to provide supportive care to their loved ones
• Increased patient satisfaction with their care
• Reduced healthcare costs for patients and their families

Outcomes:

• Improved quality of life for patients and their families
• Increased independence and self-efficacy for patients
• Improved health outcomes for patients
• Improved caregiver confidence and reduced caregiver burden
• Increased access to affordable healthcare for underserved communities

Impact:

• Improved overall health and well-being of communities served by Bena Care
• Increased economic stability for families who are able to provide care for their loved ones at home
• Improved healthcare outcomes and reduced healthcare costs at a community level.

The mobile app uses GPS technology to geo-map nurses' locations and match them with nearby patients in need of care. This enables efficient deployment of nurses, minimizing travel time and ensuring that patients receive care in a timely manner.

The app also allows for real-time communication between nurses and patients or their family members, making it easier to coordinate care and share important information. Patients can request visits, schedule appointments, and receive reminders through the app, improving the overall patient experience and ensuring continuity of care.

The SMS communication system is another way in which technology powers Bena Care's services. Patients and their family members can receive important health information, appointment reminders, and other updates through text messages. This system ensures that patients stay informed and engaged in their care, even when they may not have access to the mobile app or other digital tools.

Overall, Bena Care's use of technology helps to optimize the delivery of care, improve communication, and enhance the patient experience.

1. Recruiting and hiring a diverse workforce: Bena Care strives to hire healthcare workers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages to better understand and meet the needs of its patients.

2. Offering cultural competency training: Bena Care provides cultural competency training to its employees to help them understand the diverse needs of its patients, respect different cultural beliefs and practices, and deliver care in a manner that is sensitive and inclusive.

3. Providing language services: Bena Care offers interpretation services and language assistance to patients who have limited English proficiency or speak a language other than English.

4. Developing patient-centered care plans: Bena Care works with patients and their families to develop individualized care plans that take into account their unique cultural beliefs and practices.

5. Seeking patient feedback: Bena Care regularly seeks feedback from its patients to identify areas for improvement in its care delivery and ensure that its services are meeting the diverse needs of its patients.

By taking these approaches, Bena Care is committed to providing care that is inclusive and respectful of all patients, regardless of their background or characteristics.