In March 2020, I returned to Malaysia just before the global lockdown. With a temporary halt in household support, I took on the role of cook, cleaner, shopper, launderette, handywoman and full-time caregiver of my parents, including my 84-year-old father who is in early-mid stage dementia. Doing it alone remains the hardest job I have ever had, but I was determined to keep things as ‘normal’ as possible for my parents.

It took many tumultuous months before I made semi-peace with my circumstances, and I eventually found my Covid-19 gift – this website being one of them. It was born out of my own personal needs and challenges, and it all started with Dad. As part of improvising his care routine during the lockdown, I stumbled upon the Love To Move program, a series of moderate activities designed by the British Gymnastics Foundation to help older people, especially those with dementia. Impressed by research evidence on the efficacy of the program, and noticing a marked improvement in Dad’s condition, I decided to support other families who might be keen on improving the quality of life of their loved elders.Long story short, I became a certified Dementia Care Specialist and a Love To Move deliverer, and conceptualized Mind Concern to cater to a range of needs. Here’s what you will find on this site:

DEMENTIA CARE CONSULTING

Every person living with dementia needs a care plan because caring for someone with dementia is vastly different than caring for someone who is aging. As a Certified Dementia Care Specialist, I help families devise individualized care plans for their loved ones, tailor-made to their skills, abilities, interests and needs at whichever stage they are at in this journey. I also teach families how to provide strength-based, person-centered care for their loved ones, minimising the stress on both the caregiver and the person with dementia.

LOVE TO MOVE
I trained to become a Love To Move deliverer after I saw its benefits on Dad and figured that perhaps, there might be others who could benefit from it as well. I currently offer Love To Move in a minimum package of three sessions to the elderly and early-to-mid dementia patients. For now, I operate out of Malaysia, and when circumstances permit, in Qatar and Bahrain as well.

COACHING
As a Mental Fitness coach and an Associated Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, I brought this section in to help struggling families, similar to mine, cope and to find the elusive gift in this oftentimes, devastating situation. There is still a life to live after a dementia diagnosis – for your loved one, and for you as a family member and/or caregiver. I also support individuals and working professionals around topics such as setting boundaries, self-care, and finding their real worth.

RESOURCES & INSPIRATION
Here you will find helpful resources that might provide you with a deeper understanding of dementia and how to manage, not just a loved one with dementia, but also yourself, as a family member or a caregiver. A lot of these materials are from learning resources, which I have found very insightful. I hope that you find benefit in them too. I also share articles related to my coaching practice.

My dance with dementia has been both harrowing and joyous, and I write a lot about this bittersweet journey in my journals. Every section of this website is a direct result of a personal experience and my goal is to support others who might share a similar journey and experience.

Welcome to my little corner of the world!