Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the term for a range of lung conditions that restrict airflow and cause breathing problems. As the condition progresses, COPD can significantly impact an individual’s ability to maintain their daily routine. Even activities requiring minimal physical exertion, like light housekeeping and dressing, can become increasingly challenging.
A dedicated COPD carer can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with this chronic condition. By implementing a comprehensive COPD care plan, they ensure individuals receive the necessary care and support to manage their symptoms effectively and maintain their overall well-being.
At Trinity Homecare, COPD care is a form of complex care provided by expert carers. Our guide provides further information on complex live-in care.
What is COPD?
COPD is the collective name given to a group of lung conditions that restrict airflow to the lungs. These conditions include emphysema, damage to air sacs in the lungs, and chronic bronchitis, which is long-term inflammation of the airways.
Typically affecting middle-aged individuals, particularly those who smoke, the symptoms of COPD gradually worsen over time. As symptoms progress, they can affect an individual’s ability to breathe properly and carry out normal, everyday activities. Common symptoms of COPD include:
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Persistent cough
- Phlegm
- Recurring chest infections
- Wheezing
- Weight loss
Although, currently, there is no cure for COPD, and any damage cannot be reversed, lifestyle changes, treatment, and care plans can help to manage the condition and how severely it impacts an individual’s daily life. COPD palliative care is also an option if the condition has progressed to a life-limiting stage to make the individual feel more comfortable.
What does COPD care involve?
As the symptoms progress, an individual with COPD likely will need extra support with activities of everyday life. COPD care involves taking actions to help manage the symptoms and delay the development of the disease. Typically, a COPD carer helps to:
- Support an individual with making lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking
- Coordinate care with healthcare practitioners to support treatment
- Encourage individuals to take part in light exercise to improve breathing and mood
- Prepare balanced meals full of vital nutrients to help limit the progression of COPD
- Provide emotional support during this time
- Encourage daily breathing exercises
- Support their daily routine
- Assist with light housekeeping
- Run errands
- Manage medication
How can COPD care help?
As COPD cannot be cured, the aim is to manage the symptoms and slow down disease progression. COPD care is there to support individuals in overcoming the challenges they will undoubtedly encounter the longer they live with the disease.
COPD carers are experienced in caring for people living with this condition and know the correct ways to manage symptoms and treatment. Furthermore, from their extensive knowledge of this disease, they have a good level of understanding of how it affects the individual. So, an expert COPD carer can provide both physical support and emotional understanding to help your loved one navigate the obstacles COPD throws in the way.
As a result of the disease, restricted airflow can lead to tiredness, affecting an individual’s ability to look after themselves and take care of their home. A COPD carer can help with symptom and treatment management and assist with personal care and light housekeeping, taking the pressure off.
The benefits of live-in COPD care
Having a live-in carer on hand to help can be highly advantageous for those living with COPD. A COPD carer living on-site in your loved one’s home can provide 24-hour one-to-one support, tailored to an individual’s health needs and preferences. Being close by ensures that there is someone available to alert emergency services should symptoms flare up and cause severe breathing difficulties. Some other benefits of live-in COPD care include:
- One-to-one personalised support
- On-site assistance whenever it is needed
- Medication and treatment management to help delay disease development
- Time for much-needed rest as a carer will assist with daily chores
- Help from an experienced COPD carer
- Enabling individuals to live as independently as possible in their own homes
- Offering families peace of mind knowing that their loved one is under expert care
How to care for someone with COPD?
Caring for someone with COPD can prove challenging, so the support of an experienced carer can be helpful. However, there are ways to help individuals with COPD effectively manage their symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life. Here are some practical tips on how to care for someone with COPD.
Helping them quit
If they haven’t done so already, it is a good idea to encourage your loved one with COPD to stop smoking. Quitting smoking can slow disease progression and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Getting active
Take part in gentle physical activities together and build healthy habits. Seek advice from your loved one’s healthcare practitioners prior to starting any fitness regime to ensure that the level of exertion is safe and appropriate. Gentle physical exercise, such as a short walk in the park or chair yoga, could help strengthen your loved one’s respiratory system and improve their breathing in the long term.
Clean air indoors
As well as ensuring that living spaces are clean, dust-free, and aired regularly, it is important to be mindful of airborne triggers. Certain cleaning products can exacerbate COPD symptoms, so make sure that the gentlest products are used and avoid sprays and plug-in air fresheners.
Accompaniment to appointments
Accompanying your loved one to healthcare appointments not only offers them moral support but is also handy when it comes to recalling doctor’s instructions. Two heads are better than one for remembering what was said during the appointment.
Spot the signs
Gaining a better understanding of the condition will help you spot signs of distress or worsening symptoms. This could include recognising COPD-related complications such as heart problems and respiratory infections and noticing the onset of mood disorders like depression.
How Trinity Homecare can help
If your loved one requires expert COPD care and help manage the symptoms and treatment of this chronic condition, live-in COPD care is a suitable option. Trinity Homecare can perfectly match your loved one with an experienced COPD carer who will provide daily home help with tasks an individual with COPD might find challenging.
You can rest assured that your loved one will benefit from the highest standard of care and support as Trinity is amongst England’s top 3% of nationwide care companies.
If you would like to learn more about arranging live-in COPD care, simply get in touch with our friendly and professional care team.
Arranging live-in COPD care with Trinity is simple. Just follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
