Serious illness affects more than the body. It changes daily routines, relationships and moods, for the patient and for the whole household. Caring for someone at home can also be emotionally heavy for the person doing the caring.
On 7 October 2026, at Mt Kenya Innovation Hub in Nyeri, Compassionate Care for All (CCFA) held three training sessions for family caregivers. The third and final session focused on psychosocial support and mental wellness, and 15 caregivers took part. It looked at two questions: how to support a patient emotionally, and how caregivers can protect their own wellbeing.
What caregivers explored;
1. The emotional side of illness: how fear, sadness, frustration and loss can affect patients and families, and why these feelings are normal.
2. Supporting patients with dignity: listening without rushing, being patient, protecting privacy and involving the patient in decisions about their own care.
3. Recognizing caregiver stress and burnout: warning signs such as constant tiredness, irritability, trouble sleeping and feeling overwhelmed.
4. Self-care in daily life: taking breaks, resting, eating well and making time for things that bring comfort.
5. Asking for help and setting boundaries: sharing the load with family, friends and the community, and knowing that no caregiver can do everything alone.
6. Knowing when to seek professional support: ongoing sadness, withdrawal, hopelessness or heavy strain that does not ease are signs to speak to a health professional.
Caregivers worked through scenario cards, a simple wellbeing checklist and a self-care handout, and learned where to find further support.
Caring for the carer
A caregiver who is supported can give better care. Looking after your own mind is not selfish. It is part of looking after the patient.
This was the last session of the day, and caregivers who attended were awarded a certificate. Training is only the beginning, so our team continues to support caregivers through home visits and telehealth follow-up.
On 7 October 2026, at Mt Kenya Innovation Hub in Nyeri, Compassionate Care for All (CCFA) held three training sessions for family caregivers. The third and final session focused on psychosocial support and mental wellness, and 15 caregivers took part. It looked at two questions: how to support a patient emotionally, and how caregivers can protect their own wellbeing.
What caregivers explored;
1. The emotional side of illness: how fear, sadness, frustration and loss can affect patients and families, and why these feelings are normal.
2. Supporting patients with dignity: listening without rushing, being patient, protecting privacy and involving the patient in decisions about their own care.
3. Recognizing caregiver stress and burnout: warning signs such as constant tiredness, irritability, trouble sleeping and feeling overwhelmed.
4. Self-care in daily life: taking breaks, resting, eating well and making time for things that bring comfort.
5. Asking for help and setting boundaries: sharing the load with family, friends and the community, and knowing that no caregiver can do everything alone.
6. Knowing when to seek professional support: ongoing sadness, withdrawal, hopelessness or heavy strain that does not ease are signs to speak to a health professional.
Caregivers worked through scenario cards, a simple wellbeing checklist and a self-care handout, and learned where to find further support.
Caring for the carer
A caregiver who is supported can give better care. Looking after your own mind is not selfish. It is part of looking after the patient.
This was the last session of the day, and caregivers who attended were awarded a certificate. Training is only the beginning, so our team continues to support caregivers through home visits and telehealth follow-up.