Navigating Accessibility and Routine: How I Solved My Mum’s Medication Dilemma

On Monday, 10th August 2026, right after I booked a Grab ride home from work, I suddenly remembered that I needed to drop by Jelutong Fung Pharmacy to buy a box of hair dye for my mum.

I quickly sent a WhatsApp message to the pharmacy owner to check if it was in stock. Since she didn't reply right away and my Grab was already approaching the office, I cancelled the booking, incurring a RM3 cancellation fee.

A few minutes later, the owner replied saying they were out of stock. When I asked when the next batch would arrive, only then did she drop a surprising piece of news: the pharmacy was closing down by the end of the week. I immediately followed up about my mum’s regular medications, which were due to be bought at the end of August. My mum had been getting her prescriptions from this pharmacy for the past twenty years—it was originally run by the owner's mother before being handed down to her a few years ago.

Because it became difficult for my mum to get the medications herself, I took over purchasing her medications a year or two ago. My usual routine was simple: before my workday ended, I would WhatsApp the owner and pay her via Touch 'n Go. On my way home, I would stop by the pharmacy, call her as I approached, and either she or her staff would hand the medication to me through the car window so I didn't have to step out.

With the shop closing, I began worrying about how to handle this in the future. Could I manage to keep buying them myself, or would my brother need to take over this responsibility alongside getting our mum’s dementia medication from a clinic on the mainland?

My initial plan was to check the pharmacy located inside Red Rock Hotel, where my church is. I wanted to see if they carried all four of my mum’s medications in the exact same dosages. If they didn't—or weren't willing to order them specially for me—only then would I look for backup options around USM or Jelutong. Whatever the location, it needed to be accessible: somewhere I could easily get off a Grab ride and navigate using my four-wheeled rollator, with staff willing to lend a hand at the door if needed.

My another worry was communicating with people who had never met me before. On top of my involuntary physical movements, I wondered: Would they understand my speech? Would I be accepted and treated well as an adult customer? I reassured myself that I was bringing in regular business—my mum’s four medications cost over RM300 bimonthly.

On Sunday, 16th August 2026, I arrived at Red Rock Hotel around 2:15 p.m. To my relief, the pharmacy's glass entrance doors were wide open and welcoming. I walked straight in without having to struggle with the door or wait for someone to notice me.

A pharmacist wearing a white coat came over to assist me. At the end of the long counter, there were two lowered seats designed for customer consultations. After sitting down, I took out a printed A4 paper I had prepared on Friday evening. It had a copy of my mum’s previous receipt showing the four medications and dosages, along with a few questions I wanted to ask.

Thank God, they had every single medicine in the exact dosage required! The pharmacist was extremely friendly and understood my speech without any trouble. She even helped me download and register for the Caring Pharmacy membership app on my phone. Along with the standard register receipt, she gave me an A4 tax receipt. (In the past, I had to get assistance to tape small receipts onto paper before scanning them into my PC, so this was a great bonus.) Once I verified everything and paid, I handed her my lunch box bag, and she neatly packed the medicines inside for me.

Feeling accomplished, I walked over to the lift and went up to Level 1 for my church services at Kingdomcity—attending the 3:00 p.m. Mandarin service followed by the 5:00 p.m. English service—before taking a Grab home.

I am so relieved. From now on, I can easily buy my mum’s medications whenever I go to church. I don't have to worry about venturing into unfamiliar pharmacies, nor do I need to make extra Grab stops on my commute home. What felt like a daunting hurdle turned out to be a smooth, comfortable step forward.

Stay Fit & Healthy IPSC: Virtual Run & Walk 2026

On 29th June 2026, I saw the poster posted in our official IPSC WhatsApp group. IPSC was holding another sustainability program specifically for our office, titled ‘Stay Fit & Healthy IPSC - Virtual Run & Walk 2026.’ This was the very first time our office had organized such an event. The cumulative distance we walked or ran, along with our total step count, would be recorded starting from 6:00 a.m. on June 30th to 6:00 p.m. on July 15th.

Immediately, I messaged the group to sign up for Category A, which required completing at least 5 km or 7,500 steps (Category B required 10 km or 15,000 steps). I playfully made a fuss in our WhatsApp chat, hoping to motivate all my colleagues to participate. I wanted them to think: If I can take part despite my mobility challenges, how could they not join? I mentioned having walked two laps at the USM Stadium a few years ago, and when I asked about the distance, a colleague chimed in that one lap was roughly 500 meters. Soon after, our office director, Prof. Saidatulakmal, and deputy director, Dr. Asniza, both sent warm messages of encouragement.

That evening, I searched for my new portable travel shoe bag—which I had bought a couple of years ago—in the smallest room of my apartment and was pleased to find it. I packed my sports shoes with a pair of socks into the bag. The next day, I brought the shoe bag to the office and kept it at my workstation so I could easily change into my walking shoes whenever I was able to go to the USM Stadium after work.

In the evening, we gathered at the foyer for a briefing about the virtual run and walk. I asked if there were any restrictions to prevent fully capable participants from signing up for Category A instead of Category B. As it turned out, there were no restrictions, and the choice was left to each individual. After all, the program was meant to be a fun way to encourage staff to stay active and healthy. I playfully made another fuss about it! My goal was not to win top three prize money sponsored by our director, but simply to achieve the minimum required distance.

Besides me, there were two other staff members who experienced pain while walking. One of them suggested creating a separate category for those with walking difficulties. What fun we had right from the start! Despite managing my own depression, I love sharing jokes with my colleagues whenever possible. I am completely comfortable when they tease me and thoroughly enjoy the lighthearted banter. Perhaps these traits help me feel loved, accepted, and respected by everyone in the office, including new team members. After the briefing, I downloaded Strava on my phone to track my progress and began exploring its features.

Over the following days, I started walking inside the office during lunchtime—walking back and forth from the front to the back of the building. When my colleagues saw me, some double-checked if I was truly walking for the competition, while others reminded me to record my progress or asked how many steps I had completed. I made full use of lunchtime to walk while pushing my rollator. I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity, as I don't often get to walk in spaces suitable for my rollator.

Thank God I had two courses scheduled at the Pusat Transformasi Insan (PTI) during the 15-day challenge period. The first was on Thursday morning, July 2nd, and the second was on Wednesday, July 8th. This gave me the chance to take a long walk from the bus stop beside USM Subaidah to PTI, and then walk back to the bus stop afterward to catch a Grab. On July 8th, I arrived just as the class was starting, so I walked straight inside without checking the sign board next to the entrance. After listening to the instructor for a while, I realized I was in the wrong classroom! I quickly packed my things and walked out. When I asked the staff at the counter, they explained that an email had been sent two days prior informing everyone that the course had been postponed to October. I had missed the email amid my busy life—juggling work responsibilities while caring mentally for my mother who lives with dementia, all alongside my own physical limitations. With a smile, I pushed my rollator back to the bus stop next to Subaidah and took a Grab back to the office.

On the first Friday of the challenge, I headed to the USM Stadium after work. When I arrived by Grab, I noticed a large crowd of primary and secondary school students along with their teachers. I learned they were attending the closing ceremony of the Kejohanan Olahraga Majlis Sukan Sekolah Pulau Pinang (MSSPP) 2026. Even though I felt a bit uncomfortable around such a big crowd, I stuck to my plan, walked into the stadium, and got onto the track. I made a U-turn as I approached the seated crowd who were clapping and waiting for their school or group names to be called for medals. By the end of the session, I had successfully walked about 1.9 km! I planned to return the following Friday evening, but our office was overwhelmed with urgent work all week. I had to go straight home after work, shower, and continue working through Friday night and the weekend to meet a Tuesday deadline. I also made sure to count the steps I walked when I attended Kingdomcity at Level 1 of the Red Rock Hotel on both Sundays.

Despite the heavy workload and tiredness, I successfully walked a total of 5.6 km, surpassing the minimum 5 km requirement! I believe my cumulative distance might have been the shortest among all participating staff, but achieving it meant everything to me.

Later, on Thursday, 6th August 2026, our office held the Program Rekreasi Sukan Bowling IPSC 2026 at the Aspiration Centre on Level 5 of Sunshine Square, Bayan Lepas, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. I attended the event to support my colleagues even though I couldn't bowl. It was delightful to watch their talents and enjoy their playful reactions during the matches.

The prize presentation for the top three winners of each Virtual Run & Walk category was held alongside the prize presentation for the friendly bowling competition. Cash prizes for the Virtual Run & Walk were generously sponsored by our director, Prof. Saidatulakmal, while all five bowling teams received hampers. To my complete surprise, Prof. Saidatulakmal presented me with a special cash prize in recognition of my determination and effort in completing the walk! I was deeply touched and happy, though a little shy, remembering all the playful fuss I had made when the program was first announced in our WhatsApp group.