HEAL Corner

MAHMUD KHAN - With love, there is healing

“My mother raised me with love, so it is my duty to love and care for her too.”

Mahmud Khan, 50, experienced a turning point in his life in 2019 when his mother, Mdm Khatijah, was involved in a road accident that left her reliant on a wheelchair. Just a year later, she was diagnosed with dementia, a change that reshaped Mahmud’s role as a devoted son and caregiver.

To care for her full-time, Mahmud selflessly left his job, dedicating his days to her needs. As Mdm Khatijah’s dementia progressed, her separation anxiety made it difficult for her to be apart from him. Although Mahmud enrolled her in a local dementia daycare centre, the limited hours have hindered his ability to work, leaving him feeling "trapped" with no social life or personal time.

Despite these struggles, Mahmud draws strength from his faith and views caregiving as a meaningful way to give back.

“My mother raised me with love, so it is my duty to love and care for her too,” he explains.

In 2022, he found support through Club HEAL’s Caregiver Support Network Community Outreach Team (CREST-CSN), where he learnt caregiving skills and strategies to prevent burnout. More importantly, he found a community of fellow caregivers who understood his struggles. Since then, Mahmud has become a caregiver advocate, sharing his experiences and supporting others on their caregiving journeys.

“Throughout this journey, I have learnt the importance of prioritising both my and my mother's well-being,” he reflects. “I have also learnt to seek help, and to always be patient with my mother.”

Click here for more information on Club HEAL’s Caregiver Support Network Community Outreach Team (CREST-CSN)