A STRENGTHENED BOND

As our parents enter their golden years, the role of the caregiver in the relationship is often reversed. Here, singer Kit Chan opens up about becoming a caregiver for her mother who suffered a painful hip fracture, and how it has only strengthened their mother-daughter relationship – as chronicled in the osteoporosis campaign “Our Unbreakable Bond”.

For Kit Chan, the first few months after her mother’s fall were the hardest.

It happened eight years ago – her mother slipped and fell while she was out, fracturing her hip in the process. One hip operation and numerous tests later, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, a condition where the bones are weakened and more susceptible to breaking.

This scary diagnosis not only affected Kit’s mother physically, but psychologically as well.

“She would insist on using a walking aid even though she didn’t need it, and developed a habit of walking funny,” the 47-year-old singer recounts.

“We had to be patient and understand that it was a journey that could only be endured through time, encouragement, love and humour.”

But for Kit, the silver lining as a caregiver was that the experience brought her mother closer to her and her family, strengthening their familial bond. In fact, Kit considers it a blessing in disguise.

“I call it a blessing because sometimes, you don’t have the chance to take care of them. So I think that when you are able to, whether in terms of resources or timing, then it really is a blessing. It’s something that you can look back and say, ‘I’ve done this for my parents.’”

And the approach that her family took towards their caregiving duties is one filled with lots of love and humour.

“We joked that she was like the empress dowager and our family was her security team, constantly checking the road and looking out for curbs,” she adds with a laugh.