Seven Tips for Seniors Newly Diagnosed with COPD

Seniors who are having more trouble breathing may find that they actually have COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This progressive lung illness makes breathing difficult and seriously impacts daily life for the people who have it. Someone newly diagnosed with COPD may find themselves overwhelmed because of the changes they might need to consider making. Home care can offer a lot of support as seniors struggle with their new normal.

Understand What COPD Is

COPD is a chronic condition that gradually worsens over time. There is no cure and it is typically diagnosed in combination with either chronic bronchitis or emphysema. In COPD, the airways become narrow and inflamed, which makes it difficult for the person to breathe. Learning as much as possible about COPD and how it impacts daily life is important because it helps seniors to understand why they might need to make some changes.

Follow the Treatment Plan Closely

COPD management involves following a treatment plan. That plan might involve a combination of a variety of things like lifestyle changes, medications, and eventually oxygen therapy. Following the treatment plan helps to reduce exacerbations and makes it easier to manage symptoms. Home care providers can help seniors to establish routines that accommodate those variables.

Use Breathing Exercises Regularly

Breathing exercises are often recommended for people who have COPD. These exercises can make breathing easier and they help to improve lung function. As with any exercise, breathing exercises need to be done consistently in order to get the most benefit from them. Elder care providers can help to remind seniors to do these exercises and can help make sure they’re doing them correctly.

Make the Home More COPD-friendly

For seniors who have COPD, their home plays a huge role in helping them to live comfortably and safely with this illness. Minimizing exposure to irritants like dust, smoke, and strong smells makes a huge difference. Ensuring the home is well-ventilated helps, and seniors need to avoid harsh cleaning products. An air purifier also helps quite a bit. Home care providers can make it easier for seniors to live in a clean, dust-free home without wearing themselves out trying to do it all themselves.

Maintain Physical Activity

Staying physically active may be a little more difficult for seniors with COPD, especially when they’re first learning about the illness and working on building lung strength back up as much as they can. Gentle exercise helps to improve endurance and makes it easier to engage in daily activities.

Eat Healthy Foods

Nutrition is incredibly important for people with COPD. It’s often difficult for seniors who have COPD to eat as much food as they used to because inflammation around their lungs makes them feel full faster. They also burn a lot of calories just trying to breathe. Eating healthy meals and staying hydrated gives their body fuel that they desperately need. Home care providers can take over preparing healthy meals and snacks, making sure seniors are eating often.

Manage Stress Well

Stress is never good for anyone battling an illness, but it can especially be a problem for people with COPD. Being stressed makes it harder to breathe, which can be scary and makes the stress worse, creating a vicious cycle. Learning healthy coping techniques is an important step and can help seniors with COPD keep their breathing under better control.

Seniors with COPD can make much better progress when they have the help they need to be successful. Home care services understand what it’s like for aging adults to face a big diagnosis like this and they can offer support and hands-on help.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Ellinwood, KS, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas today. Call 620-603-0685.

Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas is a Trusted Home Care Agency Barton, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Great Bend, Hutchinson, Larned, Lyons, Marion, McPherson, Newton, Pawnee, Rice, Reno, Salina, Sedgwick, Stafford, and the surrounding areas.