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Treatments and Care for COPD at Home

January 11, 2019
Lenora Alabi
If your aging relative is experiencing coughing fits, wheezing, chest tightness and extreme fatigue, they may be struggling with COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is a serious disease that needs to be managed by a doctor. However, if elderly adults follow the treatment plan and get plenty of in-home care provider and family caregiver help, they can live safely and comfortably in their own home.

When COPD Prevents Effective Self-Care

Aging adults sometimes struggle with any number of physical challenges that affect how well they can manage their daily life when living alone at home. From arthritis to poor vision, there are age-related health issues that make it hard to do certain tasks. With COPD, elderly adults are dealing with a serious disease that affects how the body delivers oxygen.

Symptoms of COPD include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. In some cases, elderly adults have a hard time moving around and doing any sort of task that requires energy and concentration. In the long-term, if their COPD is not managed, the aging adult could develop heart disease and lung disease. They are also exposing themselves to hazards around the house as they struggle to do things like housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, showering and medication management, that may prove to be too much.

Treatments for COPD and Support at Home

The good news is that with an aggressive treatment supervised by an experienced doctor, elderly adults can live happily at home. The key is to hire a home care provider to help the elderly adult with tasks they can no longer handle. It’s typical for home care providers to step in and take over the meal planning and preparation, housekeeping duties, and laundry. They can also help with bathing, dressing and grooming, plus any other self-care tasks that seniors might struggle with.

The doctor will recommend an array of medication to help treat the COPD symptoms of coughing and wheezing, but sometimes seniors feel overwhelmed and forget when and how to take the pills. A home care provider can remind the aging adult how much he is taking and when it’s time to do so. When seniors are having a bad spell and struggle to get around the house, the home care provider is right there, ready to help and get them everything they need.

As frightening as it might be to get the diagnosis of COPD, seniors and family caregivers need to know that with a good treatment system in place and plenty of help day in and day out, their loved one will be able to live a fulfilling life full of contentment and peace. Hiring an in-home care provider is the key to finding that balance between taking care of themselves and refusing to sit out on what life has to offer. 

IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING HOME HEALTH CARE IN LINCOLN PARK, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.