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How Home Care Helps After A Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

How Home Care Helps after a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Home care specialists provide support & assistance as your loved one returns home after being hospitalized for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

What is Home Care?

Home care is a more personalized alternative to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It provides services such as personal care, homemaking, companionship and more to individuals living at home, so they can remain comfortable and independent for as long as possible.

Home Care vs Home Health

Home health is typically short-term medical services administered in the home to treat an illness or injury. This type of medical assistance is usually provided by a registered nurse, physical, occupational or speech therapist. Home care agencies are often requested to provide supplemental care as the patient transitions.

Who is a Good Candidate for Home Care?

Home care can be beneficial for individuals who are getting older, are chronically ill, are recovering from a surgery or are disabled. Perhaps your loved one needs assistance with day-to-day tasks but does not need to be in a nursing home or hospital. Home care could be the right fit for them.

What Types of Home Care Services Are Available?

Home care looks different for everyone. Each individual’s needs are unique, and home care can be tailored to fit those needs. Depending on what your loved one’s needs are, caregiving services can be available 24-hours a day or a few hours each week. Some of the services include:

Personal Care

Homemaking

Companionship

  • Conversation
  • Reading Aloud
  • Hobbies and Projects
  • Outings and Events
  • Morning Wake-Up & Evening Tuck-In
  • Assistance with Attending Religious Services

Home Care Interventions for Patients being discharged for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease where the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs are partially blocked, making it difficult to breathe.

For patients who are discharged from the hospital after having COPD, 17 to 25% of them will be readmitted within 30 days. If your loved one was hospitalized for COPD, home care can help with their return home and aid in their recovery.

While there is no cure for COPD, there are many things that can be done to relieve symptoms and to keep the disease from getting worse. After an individual is discharged from the hospital with COPD, it’s important that they protect their lungs and stay healthy. Home care can help so your loved one stays healthy.

Below are services that home care can provide that align with evidence-based practices that are proven to reduce readmission rates for COPD:

Personal Care

Individuals with COPD can experience shortness of breath that may get in the way of doing simple tasks like household chores or dressing. A home care specialist can help with personal care so your loved one gets the assistance they need. Caregivers can help shower, dress, bathe and more so individuals don’t feel burdened to do things on their own.

Transportation to Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Doctors usually recommend patients in Stage two and higher attend pulmonary rehabilitation. Caregivers can provide transportation to pulmonary rehabilitation as well as attend rehabilitation with patients and ensure there is proper follow up regarding exercise, nutrition and other disease management techniques.

Monitoring Home and Patient

Caregivers can check the quality of the patient’s home and make sure it is free from factors that could worsen the condition such as smoke or air pollution. While monitoring the home, they can also monitor the patient to see if there are any signs that the condition has worsened or changed. Caregivers can help monitor a patient’s health and make doctor appointments if they see something has changed.

Home care is a valuable option for an individual who desires to maintain their independence and continue their life in the comfort of their home.

If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation.  Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.

Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.

Sources:

  • https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1708580/Marketing%20Monthlies/PDFs%20from%20Windfarm%20Marketing/0916_HomeCareCOPD_CMYK.pdf
  • https://www.namdrc.org/sites/default/files/files/HospitalReadmissions.pdf
  • http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/breathlessness-explained#Overview1
  • http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Living-with-COPD/Pulmonary-Rehabilitation.aspx

 

Carol Pardue-Spears

Carol has worked in the healthcare field for more than forty years. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, she worked for El Camino Hospital in the cardiac unit, Los Gatos Community Hospital, The Women’s Cancer Center in Los Gatos and several home health and hospice agencies. Carol founded Family Matters in 2002 to fill a deficit she witnessed in high-quality, in-home services and care.

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