Living With COPD: A Caregiver’s Guide

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common condition among people over 65, especially smokers and former smokers of tobacco. However, great strides have been made in treating it.

If you have a mother or father with COPD, there are many things you and your home care aide can do to make your parent’s life full and comfortable. Today’s medical guidelines say that each COPD patient is different. Therefore there is no one-size-fits-all regime. Treatment regimes must be tailored to the individual. In the case of COPD, such regimes are called “pulmonary rehabilitation.”

Pulmonary Rehab

Pulmonary Rehabilitation takes place in a classroom setting with other COPD patients. Instructors will teach patients about the disease and how to manage it. Such rehab programs emphasize fitness. Through exercise and learning efficient movements, patients can maintain the ability to do the things they enjoy and spend time with loved ones.

Pulmonary Rehab begins with a patient evaluation. Your mother or father will do a short walk while a medic measures the oxygen in his bloodstream. If blood oxygen is very low, the patient will need to use oxygen while doing rehab.

Get Dad To Quit Smoking

The most important thing a parent with COPD can do is to quit smoking, if he has not done so already. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, and it irritates already damaged airways and lungs.

According to the Mayo Clinic, nicotine replacements, like patches, are an effective way to manage cigarette cravings in people who are quitting. Other coping strategies include having a support group, exercising, chewing gum, meditation and relaxation exercises, and avoiding the stress triggers that previously resulted in lighting up.

Keep Up With Vaccinations

Lung and bronchial infections are dangerous to people with COPD. Therefore, getting influenza and pneumonia shots will be more important than ever for a parent with this condition. If you have not hired home care for your mother or father with COPD, this would be an excellent time to learn more about it.

Home care professionals are skilled at providing transportation to clinics to get rehab, check ups, and vaccines. Such home care aides also encourage healthy eating, exercise and correct administration of medications, such as inhalers.
In conclusion, COPD is definitely not a diagnosis anyone wants to hear, but monitoring and treating the condition provides good results. A cessation of smoking, exercise, and using medications as directed makes the condition much easier to live with. With proper care and guidance, a COPD patient can continue to live a productive and happy life.

Sources

https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/031912p8.shtml
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spirometry/#:~:text=A%20spirometer%20measures%20the%20amount,lungs%20aren’t%20working%20properly.
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/features/copd-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment.html