Harriet Njeri, a 38-year-old marketing executive living in Berlin, Germany, cherished her dream of ensuring her ailing father in Meru, Kenya, lived a dignified, healthy life in his later years. Having lost her mother at a young age, Harriet grew up with her dad as her sole pillar, and now, as a single professional navigating Germany’s fast-paced corporate world, she yearned to repay that love by managing his care remotely focusing on his chronic diabetes and hypertension while building a supportive routine around him.
Challenge
The seven-hour time difference and over 6,000 kilometers separating Berlin from Meru made direct involvement impossible. Harriet’s father, in his 70s, lived alone in their modest family home, struggling with mobility and forgetting medications, which led to frequent health scares like uncontrolled blood sugar spikes requiring emergency hospital visits. Without trusted local help, she relied on sporadic calls to neighbors, but mismanagement fears grew funds sent for groceries vanished without proof, and attempts to hire a caregiver through relatives ended in unreliability, causing emotional turmoil. Harriet endured sleepless nights worrying about his isolation, nutrition, and well-being, all while juggling demanding work deadlines that left her drained and guilty for not being there.
Solution
Scrolling through a Kenyan diaspora support group on Facebook one evening, Harriet discovered our errand services and reached out for a consultation. We stepped in as her trusted local partners, starting with weekly wellness visits to her father’s home in Meru, where our vetted runners checked his vital signs, ensured medication adherence by picking up prescriptions from the local pharmacy, and sent real-time WhatsApp photos and videos of his daily routine. We sourced and interviewed a reliable house manager a compassionate local woman named Grace and handled her monthly salary payments directly via M-Pesa, complete with receipts. Additionally, we managed grocery shopping for fresh produce, diabetes-friendly foods, and household supplies from Meru markets, while procuring seasonal clothing to keep him comfortable through Kenya’s varying weather, all documented transparently to build Harriet’s confidence.
Outcome and Impact
Over the past year, her father’s health has stabilized remarkably hospital visits dropped by 90%, and his blood pressure is consistently managed, extending his quality of life and saving Harriet an estimated KSh 400,000 in potential medical emergencies. With Grace overseeing daily meals and chores, he now enjoys nutritious home-cooked ugali, vegetables, and fruits, fostering a healthier, happier existence. Harriet has reclaimed her peace of mind, focusing on her career promotions while strengthening their bond through shared video updates. “This service didn’t just care for my dad; it healed my heart from afar it’s like having a family extension in Meru,” Harriet reflects gratefully. Like Harriet, you can nurture your loved ones in Kenya without the distance defining your limits.
Contact us today to weave care into your diaspora story.
