4 Things Seniors With Respiratory Illness Should Have At Home

Estimates are that nearly 1 in 7 seniors struggle with some type of respiratory illness. Many of those illnesses are long-term, progressive, or chronic illnesses. Seniors often need to make lifestyle changes and use special medical equipment like nebulizers, inhalers, or supplemental oxygen to manage chronic respiratory illness. The most common respiratory illnesses that seniors have are:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Emphysema
• Lung Cancer
• Cystic Fibrosis

When seniors have chronic respiratory illness, home care assistance can truly be invaluable. With home care assistance, seniors will have someone with them if they need help. A care provider can watch for signs of struggling to breathe. They can also provide transportation to doctor visits, mobility assistance to reduce effort around the house, and more.

Seniors should also have these items at home to help manage the air quality and make it easier for seniors to breathe easily:

Air Purifier

An air purifier is essential for seniors that are aging at home and have respiratory illness. Seniors can have a whole-house air filter installed. But most seniors choose to have portable room-size air purifiers in one or two rooms in the house. Usually air purifiers are used in the living room and the bedroom. There are many different sizes and styles of air purifiers to choose from. But seniors should make sure that whatever air purifier they choose has a HEPA filter on it. HEPA filters can filter out even tiny particles of allergens and pollution. Having an air purifier will help maintain a high quality of indoor air.

Plants

Plants are the original air purifiers. Plants make people happy. And they also can help maintain a good indoor air quality. Plants release oxygen into the house and feed on carbon dioxide. That helps promote good air quality which will make it easier for seniors to breathe. Often people think that they don’t have a green thumb and can’t keep plants alive. But there are hundreds of varieties of plants to choose from so seniors can find plants they can keep alive. Succulents are often recommended as houseplants because they are very easy to maintain.

Humidifier

The heater in the winter and the air conditioner in the summer can make indoor air very dry. Running a cool mist humidifier adds moisture to dry indoor air. That moist air is much easier for seniors to breathe. And when the air has enough humidity the small hairs in the house can do a better job filtering out dust and allergens. That will help seniors breathe easier too.

Indoor Air Monitor

Wildfires are becoming more common and spreading smoke throughout the country. In many parts of the country the air can become toxic very quickly. Having an indoor air quality monitor will let seniors and care providers know if the air in the house is safe. Monitoring the quality of the indoor air will allow seniors to adjust their medication and lifestyle to make it easier for them to breathe freely.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/10-faqs-about-living-with-copd#1

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004011.htm

https://www.lung.org/blog/your-aging-lungs

Griswold Home Care for Northern Virginia West is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Woodbridge, Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Centreville, Bristow, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Gainesville, Lorton, and the surrounding areas.