Fahrat & Habbib's Story
For Fahrat and her mother, caring for her father, Habib Nawaz, has been an emotional and physically demanding journey.
Habib lives with both dementia and Parkinson’s disease; life-limiting illnesses that require constant attention and care. When things became too overwhelming, East Lancashire Hospice’s Hospice at Home team stepped in to help, transforming daily life for the whole family.
“We’ve been receiving care from the Hospice at Home team for about a year and a half now,” Fahrat explains. “Me and my mum were really struggling before. It was the district nurse who first introduced us to East Lancashire Hospice, and since then, the support has been absolutely brilliant.”
Initially, the family began with night visits to help manage Habib’s disrupted sleep. “At night, my dad doesn’t sleep, so caring for him 24/7 became exhausting for both of us,” she shares. “The night visits gave us some much-needed rest. After a while, we decided to have some day visits, which gave us a break and the chance to take mum out, knowing dad was in safe hands.”
The difference this care has made to their lives is profound. “We honestly couldn’t have managed without them,” says Fahrat. “East Lancashire Hospice not only helps my dad, but they’ve helped us, mentally and physically. It gives us peace of mind, knowing we’re not doing it all alone.”
Fahrat is especially passionate about encouraging others in the Muslim community to reach out for support. “Less than 5% of our Muslim community receives care from East Lancashire Hospice. I know what it’s like, we try as a community to do everything ourselves and not ask for help. But it’s so important to know the hospice is here for everyone. I was in the same situation, me and my mum, we couldn’t cope any longer. I’m so glad we reached out to the hospice. They really do take a huge burden off your shoulders.”
She urges members of the Muslim community not to hesitate.“It’s important to reach out. Any family struggling with care, please get in touch with the hospice. They will help you more than you can imagine.”
And when it comes to supporting East Lancashire Hospice, Fahrat is clear: “This is a free service, but it needs donations to survive. The hospice needs funding to reach more homes and support more families like ours. Every donation helps bring care to those who need it most.”
For Fahrat, her mother, and many families across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, East Lancashire Hospice provides so much more than care – it’s life-changing.
With your donation, you can help to ‘Bring Care Home’