10 ways to help someone with COPD
Watching a family member suffer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not an easy thing to do. However, seniors living with COPD can greatly benefit from having caregivers who are knowledgeable about the disease and how to treat it.
“Getting patients with COPD back to a functional quality of life is absolutely doable,” said Kenny Higdon, owner of 5 Star Home Care. “Part of that is staying in the mindset that caregivers can help.”
Higdon’s business provides assistance to Tennesseans living with disabilities or recovering from injuries, illnesses or age-related needs. This includes seniors who struggle to breathe because of COPD — a condition of emphysema and chronic bronchitis — usually caused by smoking or other long-term exposure to lung irritants such as air pollution, chemical fumes or dust.
The progressive disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Severe COPD may prevent someone from doing basic activities such as walking, cooking or taking care of oneself. To give you a better understanding of how a caregiver can improve the life of a loved one living with COPD, here are 10 ways that 5 Star Home Care caregivers help their patients feel better and slow the progress of the disease:
1. Stay active. “Shortness of breath is distressing, can make patients fearful, and often leads them to withdraw from physical activity,” said Higdon. It can also be scary for someone to watch a loved one struggle in this way. But caregivers help encourage patients to do physical things on their own, even if it’s walking to the mailbox. This helps strengthen their muscles and prevents symptoms from worsening.
2. Socialize. Seniors suffering from COPD may want to withdraw from being sociable, which can cause depression. By making sure that they stay involved in social activities, caregivers are able to help clients curb that depression.
3. Avoid irritants. There are many factors that can irritate a patient’s lungs, including chemical smells, environmental pollutants, tobacco smoke, etc. Caregivers can help clients avoid situations involving these irritants, and being outdoors when these irritants are present, by being constantly aware. In turn, they can also be patient and helpful when irritants are unavoidable.
4. Record symptoms. It is very important to make note of symptoms daily and to recognize whether they are worsening. Caregivers can help in this process by noticing any changes in specific symptoms, such as increased coughing, exhaustion or swelling in the extremities, or worsened ability to breathe. Recognizing these symptoms earlier can affect how they impact the patient and how long they last.
5. Attend doctor’s appointments. There are very big benefits to having a second person attend doctor’s appointments. A caregiver can be a second set of ears, ask questions that may not occur to the client and take notes to refer to later.
6. Give medicine. It is very important for patients with COPD to take their prescribed medications regularly and as scheduled. “Many patients think they can use their inhaler as needed, but it’s like any other medication and needs to be taken as prescribed,” says Higdon.
7. Facilitate rehab. Caregivers need to attend rehab sessions and understand pulmonary rehabilitation exercises in order to help their patients. “It shows the caregiver how much patients actually can do for themselves,” Higdon says. These exercises can increase strength and increase the quality of the patient’s daily life.
8. Find balance. It is absolutely essential for family caregivers and patients to balance managing chronic disease and having normal daily routines. By taking time off for yourself as a caregiver, you maintain a better quality of life, too.
9. Openly discuss and communicate. It may not always be easy for those suffering from COPD to voice frustrations or concerns, but keeping the lines of communication open will help alleviate unnecessary issues that could arise otherwise.
10. Ask for help. “Having a network of people is crucial,” said Higdon. Family, friends and other social networks are great resources when you need additional support. Medical professionals and doctors can also help you to be as knowledgeable as possible about COPD. “Educate yourself and know that COPD has a place in the patient’s life and your own, but it doesn’t have to be the complete focus,” said Higdon.
Having a support system can help to ease the challenges of coping with COPD, but support may extend beyond relying on family and friends alone. The 5 Star Home Care staff stands ready to provide help to families who need compassionate caregivers trained to provide assistance under a variety of circumstances.
About 5 Star Home Care
Higdon started 5 Star Home Care in 2007, after his mother took on the responsibility of caring for his grandmother. Realizing how precious our seniors are, 5 Star employs the most qualified caregivers, who are hired only after undergoing careful background checks and drug screens. The company’s procedures are tailored to work toward constant monitoring and care management, and never place the senior at risk of being left without care.
Headquartered in Chattanooga, 5 Star Home Care serves clients throughout Tennessee. Home care services exist to provide the basic services that facilities do — light housekeeping, meal preparation and social activities — without removing the senior from the familiarity of home. It is a cost-efficient alternative to an assisted living facility that preserves the aging loved one’s sense of freedom and comfort.