2
July 2022
Published every 28th
Suruvi's Caregiver eResource 24TH OF JULY - THE INTERNATIONAL SELF-CARE DAY
Note to Self Rhoda Wagaki Founding Director
by Matilda Stauber
One day I was asked, what's
Welcome to the 2nd edition of our eResource! July has
the purpose for the season you
been an exciting month for us; We marked the 24th of
are in? Some places have more seasons than others. They have winter, spring, summer & autumn. Others have rainy & sunny. And yet, no one place tells the other I have a richer experience than you. Did you know, that what we call
July- International Self-care day with the congregation at Ridgeways Baptist Church. Self Care is core to our company values and aims. While at the Church we set into motion plans to support their Senior Citizens ministry with mental wellness support services for the caregivers involved. Wholesome spiritual beliefs can be a strong coping mechanism through trying times and
desolate is really only desolate
beneficial to overall mental health. Photos of the event
because we called it so? Even
are shared here on page 3.
that place has its own richness. What is the richness of the
Have
you
been
on
our
and
season you are in? Is it the
platforms lately? There's valuable information about
obvious
The
the 7 Self-care Pillars, guided by The International
treasures that lie way below the
Selfcare Foundation, These pillars provide a holistic
surface?
and/or
approach to self-care, in practical and concrete ways.
wisdom with which you handle
Comment on the posts and let us know how else we can
change? I keep getting different
support your self-care practices.
visual The
beauty? grace
answers for myself whenever I seek to answer that question.
The real gem this month was spending a day with a
Can you find the richness in
select group of caregivers at Plantastic with Kui. We
the season you are in? Reach out
experienced mother nature's offerings to self-care. You
if you need some help with that.
should step out into nature as often as you can; it is therapy we all can afford!
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
YouTube - Money or Mental wellness! Can we have it all? Self-care is best practised as a holistic practice. It is not enough to only focus on physical health, although that is a great start! If other aspects of a caregiver's life are not in order, such as finances, there will be stress and strain. Therefore, this month we have introduced a new series! Learn how to manage the impact of caregiving
on
your
finances
with
our
finance expert.
I fell down and can't get up: Caregiving and Substance Abuse. Blog post Rewarding as it can be, the rigors of caregiving
can
be
tough!
The
overwhelming weight, fatigue and pain can make us do things in an attempt to cope but that end up harming us. Our blog post will help us recognize when things get overboard, and where and how to get help. Reach Suruvi on +254 719571770 for counselling support with your self-care practices.
We'll
help
you
bear
weight of caring for loved ones.
the
Can't find the energy for selfcare? Blog post When bombarded by self-help gurus, self-care
advice
and
experts
on
all
kinds of health, it is easy to shut down. Being a caregiver and finding time to breath can be hard, and finding the energy to start exercising, changing diet or reading on health practices can often feel impossible. Our article may be the support you need to find a different way to go about selfcare to maintain your motivation when low on energy.
A FANTASTIC DAY AT PLANTASTIC WITH KUI Nature does nurture us! That is what research is finding out. According to a study, our moods improve, our empathy and attention span increase and stress levels drop by spending time in nature. Yet the more urban we become, the less time we tend to spend out in nature. In Nairobi, we have several parks such as Karura, Arboretum, and Ngong Forest. Take some time to go there, breathe fresh air, hear the birds, and if you feel brave, walk barefoot on the soil! If you want more than an afternoon walk, the gorgeous Ngong Hills offer opportunities to do a one-day hike.
In
continuation
of
our
Father's
Day
nominations campaign, and on the basis of the therapeutic features of nature, we invited some of the male caregivers nominated during the campaign for a day spent outside. In collaboration with Plantastic with Kui, we had insightful
self-care
conversations,
a
tour
around her plant studio, and left with gifts from nature to cheer up our indoor spaces. Look out for the recording of this day on our YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss this and more exciting episodes! We will be looking forward to your comments and thoughts!
THOMAS JEFFERSON [17431826]:
“NO KNOWLEDGE CAN BE MORE SATISFACTORY TO A MAN THAN THAT OF HIS OWN FRAME, ITS PARTS, THEIR FUNCTIONS AND ACTIONS.” (LETTER TO DR THOMAS COOPER, OCTOBER 7 1814)
Caregiver Story: I chose this life - Joash Oduo What meaning do you find in your work as a caregiver? Joash Oduo share's his caregiving story with us. Step into his world; there is inspiration in his words.
How
did
you
become
a
c a r e g iv e r ?
Is
it
s o m e t h i n g y o u c h o s e t o d o o r d id t h e r o l e f in d you? I have always wanted to be someone who could bring about a positive change or make an impact o n t h e l i v e s o f o t h e r s . E s p e c i a l l y f o r th e l e s s fortunate,
the
individuals,
and
i n c a p a c i t a te d the
e l d e rl y ,
or
sickly
children,
and
p e r s o n s w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s . W h e n I h e a r d th a t there
are
offering
colleges
in
caregiving
the
c o u n tr y
courses,
I
th a t
are
i m m e d i a te l y
s c o u t e d a r o u n d f o r o n e a n d e n r o l l e d i n th e training
in
necessary
order skills
to that
equip could
myself
w i th
enable
me
th e to
discharge the responsibility professionally. So, I c a n c o n f i d e n t l y s a y t h a t I d e l i b e r a te l y c h o s e to be a caregiver or better still, I was ordained by God to be one.
Click here for Joash's full story
"I have always wanted to be someone who could bring about a positive change or make an impact in the lives of others"
Caregiving and Spirituality INTERNATIONAL SELF-CARE DAY AT RIDGEWAYS BAPTIST CHURCH We are stronger together. On Sunday, 24th of July 2022, (read
International
Self-Care
Day)
we
off
kicked
collaboration Citizen
with
Ministry
the
in
the Senior
Ridgeways
Baptist Church. We
will
citizen's
support
their
ministry
on
senior matters
self-care for the caregivers in the congregation. Exciting!
Pastor Fred Auma, Patron pastor of the Senior Citizen's Ministry with Rhoda Wagaki, Director Suruvi - Care for Caregivers.
We have to acknowledge the wholeness of a person to help them maintain good health. To most people, there is a spiritual element to this equation. Regardless of religion or faith, staying in touch with your spirituality can help you in many ways. Hope, trust, reassurance, and meaning can be nurtured through a belief in a higher power. And this may be something extremely valuable when dealing with something really heavy, like a family member's terminal illness. Our
collaboration
with
Ridgeways
Baptist
Church,
and
other
spiritual
institutions, are reflections of the importance of attending to spirituality in self-care, as well as acknowledging that caregivers are found everywhere.
Committee of the senior citizens ministry with the team from Suruvi - Care for Caregivers.
CLASSIFIEDS - CAREGIVER CONNECT PLACE YOUR AD HERE! ARE YOU A FAMILY LOOKING FOR A CAREGIVER? or ARE YOU A CAREGIVER LOOKING FOR WORK? We want to redesign the work-hunt landscape for the good of families and caregivers. The goal of this project is to provide a platform where employers
can
easily
access
qualified,
rated
caregivers, with trusted references And Caregivers can showcase their qualifications, and grow their careers, skillsets and experience.
Disclaimer: Our Service is provided “as is,” and we disclaim legal liability for the quality, safety, or reliability of our Service. Suruvi - Care for Caregivers do not take responsibility for the quality of care that the caregiver provides. Suruvi does not employ any of the advertised caregivers. Only formally trained caregivers are allowed to advertise. For families who hire a caregiver through this page, it is their own responsibility to interview and run background checks on potential caregivers We want to keep this a safe caregiver community space and we invite your support with this. You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, please let us know about it. Some examples of violations include but are not limited to: Requests for money or donations, that is outside of agreed pay Harassment, threats, and offensive messages Inappropriate or harmful behaviour during or after meeting in person Fraudulent profiles Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services Complaints/reviews can be shared with us on admin@suruvi.co.ke
MARK THE DATE NOVEMBER 19, 2022! This will be the first ever "Celebrate the Caregiver" EVENT!! We are holding it on International Men's day in special recognition to male caregivers. We invite humanity to celebrate the caregiver in a day of fun, conversation, and self-care. Look out for more details on our
Where to find us
social media handles and in the next newsletter issues!
suruvi.co.ke P.S: Would your organization like to
suruvicaregiver Suruvi_Care4Caregivers Suruvi - Care for Caregivers Suruvi4Caregivers +254 719 571 770 Self-care for Caregivers
Do you have any questions or queries? Any suggestions of what you would like to read in our eResource? Let us know on admin@suruvi.ac.ke
partner with Suruvi as we acknowledge and honour caregivers?
Reach us through maggiem@suruvi.co.ke or +254 719571770 A little haha..