People grow older and at some point might not be able to take care of themselves in their own homes. You may one day have to care for an elderly family member, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in your home. One of the symptoms of COPD is difficulty breathing. You'll have to learn all about the disease, including shortness of breath symptoms. Before moving your relative into your home, there are some other routine things that you should first consider.
Prior Relationship With Your Relative
Do you have enough space to accommodate your relative? Is there space for a hospital bed, oxygen equipment, or other medical equipment and supplies? If your relationship with your relative was strained at times in the past, it's entirely possible that this living arrangement may be a difficult one. If that's not a problem, start thinking about your home's physical layout.
Consider Physical Layout Of Your Home
The physical layout of your home is important. Will the layout accommodate a necessary wheelchair? If all goes well, and your relative is scheduled to move in, then make sure to learn as much as you can about COPD and all that it entails, since you will be monitoring your relative's oxygen use as prescribed. You should know how the oxygen equipment works.
Oxygen Equipment
Oxygen equipment in the past has been large and heavy. With new available technology, your relative can acquire a lightweight machine that is not stationary and can be easily transported inside your home. It can be taken in a car if a shopping trip to a grocery store is planned. It is easily brought along to social gatherings or when visiting a friend's home. Don't forget to brush up on your knowledge about oxygen therapy for COPD.
Oxygen Therapy For COPD
Oxygen is a medical treatment, which is prescribed by a physician. The prescription indicates how much oxygen is needed for exercise and sleep periods, and you must make sure that your relative takes the correct amount of oxygen that the doctor orders. Oxygen therapy is associated with pulmonary rehabilitation. Contact a company like Home Medix Inc for more info.
Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Be aware that pulmonary rehabilitation is a treatment that your loved one might already be involved in or may have to participate in at a future date. According to an aging care website, pulmonary rehabilitation will teach your relative how to complete activities without developing shortness of breath. The article also advises that pulmonary rehab gives valuable dietary information as well as physical and exercise therapy tips, and these services are quite often covered by medical insurance plans.
Share29 November 2015
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.
