Sir James Foundation

"Advocating for Dignity, Health, and Inclusion for Every Older Adult."

Advocacy and Policy Making

At Sir James Foundation and Sir James Healthy Ageing Initiative, we are deeply committed to advocating for the rights, health, and dignity of Kenya’s elderly population. Our advocacy efforts are focused on creating systemic change that empowers older adults and ensures their needs are met across all sectors of society. We recognize that policy is a critical tool for driving long-term, impactful changes that benefit the aging population, and we work tirelessly to promote age-inclusive policies at local, national, and international levels.

—Our Key Advocacy Areas Include:

Promoting Age-Inclusive Policies

We believe that policies should be inclusive and reflect the realities of aging. Our work involves advocating for the development and implementation of policies that support older adults in all aspects of life, including healthcare, housing, financial security, and legal protections. We collaborate with policymakers, local governments, and international organizations to ensure that aging is treated as a priority and is integrated into national development agendas.

Elderly Rights Protection: Advocating for laws that protect the rights of the elderly, ensuring that they are not discriminated against in areas such as healthcare, employment, or social welfare.
Access to Affordable Healthcare: Pushing for the expansion of healthcare systems that provide affordable and comprehensive care to the aging population, especially those with chronic conditions such as dementia.
Social Protection and Inclusion: Ensuring that older adults are included in social security and protection programs, safeguarding them from poverty and exclusion.

2. Raising Public Awareness

A core aspect of our advocacy is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by older adults, both in the public and private sectors. Through national campaigns, educational programs, and media engagement, we aim to shift societal attitudes towards aging and create a more inclusive environment for the elderly.

Combatting Ageism: We work to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about aging and the elderly, encouraging society to value the wisdom, experience, and contributions of older adults.
Promoting Healthy Aging: Educating the public on the importance of healthy aging, including physical activity, proper nutrition, mental health support, and disease prevention.
Community Engagement: Engaging communities to promote intergenerational support, where younger generations are educated and encouraged to care for older adults.

Strengthening Care Systems and Services

A major focus of our advocacy is improving the care systems for older adults in Kenya, especially for those living with dementia or other chronic conditions. We advocate for the development of robust care infrastructure, both in institutional settings and within communities, to ensure that older adults have access to high-quality, person-centered care.

Improving Long-Term Care: Calling for the expansion of long-term care facilities that provide safe, supportive, and high-quality care for elderly individuals, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Home and Community-Based Services: Advocating for policies that support home-based care and community-based services to allow older adults to age in place, preserving their independence and dignity.
Training for Caregivers: Pushing for national programs that provide training for caregivers, both professional and family-based, to improve the quality of care for elderly individuals

Engaging Stakeholders and Building Coalitions

We believe that collaboration is key to achieving lasting change. Through partnerships and coalition-building, we work to amplify the voice of the elderly and ensure that their concerns are represented at the policymaking table. We collaborate with other NGOs, local governments, healthcare organizations, and international bodies to create a unified effort in advocating for the elderly.

Policy Dialogues: Organizing and participating in national and international dialogues that bring together experts, government officials, and organizations to discuss aging-related policies and issues.
Global Collaboration: Partnering with global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dementia Care International to align Kenya’s aging policies with international best practices and standards.
Grassroots Mobilization: Empowering local communities and civil society groups to advocate for the rights of the elderly, ensuring that their voices are heard in local governance and decision-making.