Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Breathing is an essential part of life. When it becomes difficult or you are short of breath, it can make daily activities more challenging and impact your quality of life. Individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD often know this all too well. Finding the right support can play an integral role in managing health and making the most of each day.

What is COPD?

COPD encompasses several different conditions including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma. It is a progressive disease that leaves individuals increasingly breathless because airways become inflamed, lose their elastic quality, or become clogged with mucus. People may also experience coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness. While medications can help to manage symptoms and slow disease progression, there is currently no cure for COPD or a way to reverse lung damage.

Fortunately, there are strategies for managing the disease through medication, exercise, nutrition, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

How Can an In-Home Caregivers Help Individuals with COPD?

If you have COPD, working with an in-home caregiver can provide you with the support and assistance you need to enhance your quality of life. From a few hours of care per week to a few hours per day, they can adjust their schedule to meet your unique needs and level of care.

An in-home caregiver can:

• Help to organize your home so that the objects you use most often are within close reach. This means less effort to get what you need and do what you enjoy.
• Develop a meal plan with easy to prepare meals that support better lung and respiratory health. What you eat can affect your COPD symptoms. They can also help with grocery shopping and meal prep as well.
• Accompany you on walks or outings so that you can stay active, continue to do the things you enjoy, and have the confidence that someone is beside you to help if you become tired or out of breath.
• Remind you to take medications as prescribed so you don’t miss any doses.
• Provide companionship and help you to keep a more positive attitude when dealing with the challenges of COPD. They are someone to talk to, laugh with, and share with, which can boost your mood and help you to see things from another perspective.
• Assist with light housekeeping, wake-up and bedtime routines, getting dressed, and other activities that may leave you short of breath if you had to do them on your own.

It can take some time at first to adjust to having an in-home caregiver providing support, but soon you will settle into a routine and realize how valuable their help can be. It can allow you to continue aging in place more safely and doing the things you enjoy with fewer challenges. You can maintain your independence as much as possible while receiving assistance with tasks that become more difficult or trigger COPD symptoms. Always Best Care offers personalized care and support you can trust. Contact us today at (855) 470-2273 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about available senior care services.