Most people prefer to receive care at home when living with a chronic disease like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Our home health care team will work with your doctor to develop a COPD management plan in order for you to remain at home and live as independently as possible.
You are not alone. COPD affects 15.7 million* Americans.
COPD PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- An interdisciplinary home health care team made up of many types of professionals who can address the ways COPD affects your life
- A thorough COPD therapy plan to help you manage COPD symptoms
- An approach to care that is backed by the latest research so you receive high-quality COPD treatment
- Focus on getting you to be as independent as possible in managing your COPD symptoms through self-care
Is home health care right for your loved one?
HOW HOME HEALTH CARE CAN HELP WITH COPD TREATMENT
In our COPD management program, we provide you with tools to help you care for yourself and take charge of your own COPD treatment. We offer:
- Nursing services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social work
- Education about your COPD medications
- Support so you can achieve your personal goals and follow a plan of care developed specifically for you
- Education about breathing exercises for COPD, such as pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing
- Education about clearing your airway and conserving energy
- Tools to help you with COPD management (as needed per doctor’s orders)
- Education for your caregiver to include them in your COPD treatment plan
GOALS OF COPD TREATMENT
Some of the goals of our COPD program include:
- Manage COPD at home by helping you recognize when your symptoms get worse and know what steps to take
- Slow the progression of COPD
- Improve your ability to stay active
- Reduce your chances of needing to go to the hospital
- Prevent and treat COPD exacerbations (flare-ups)
- Help you be as independent as possible
- Make sure your home is safe so you can stay as healthy as possible
- Improve your quality of life and overall health
IS THE AMEDISYS HOME HEALTH COPD PROGRAM RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you have any of the following, our COPD program may be a good fit for you:
- Frequent flare-ups of COPD symptoms that require antibiotics, bronchodilators and/or steroids to manage symptoms and avoid hospitalization
- Shortness of breath that prevents you from doing daily activities
- Increased fall risk due to fatigue and weakness because of your COPD
- Difficulty taking your medicines, including inhalers
- Need for an action plan to help manage COPD exacerbations (flare-ups) before they become severe
Our COPD program can help you manage COPD symptoms and keep you independent at home as long as possible.
99% of Amedisys home health care centers are rated 4+ Quality Stars.
WHEN TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
Diagnosis and COPD treatment can help relieve symptoms and improve your health. Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following COPD symptoms:
- Shortness of breath that has gotten worse or more frequent (for example, not being able to walk as far or needing an inhaler more often than usual)
- Changes in mucus color, thickness, amount or odor
- Coughing or wheezing
- Extreme weakness or fatigue
- New or worsened swelling in your legs, ankles or feet
- Forgetfulness, confusion, restlessness or irritability
- Fever, especially with flu or cold symptoms
- Frequent headaches or dizziness
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
COMMON COPD TREATMENTS
COPD can affect every part of your life. But there’s a lot that can be done to improve your well-being. Common COPD treatments include:
- Assistance to stop smoking
- Exercise
- Techniques to conserve energy
- Breathing techniques
- Oral and inhaled medication
- Lung surgery (in some cases)
YOUR COPD SELF-CARE PLAN
Our home health care professionals will help you create a plan to manage your COPD symptoms. This way you can stay at home as long as possible and minimize the risk of having to be admitted to the hospital. Your COPD self-care plan may include:
- Checking your oxygen level, heart rate and blood pressure
- Daily checks for symptoms of a COPD exacerbation (flare-up)
- An action plan to manage COPD symptoms
- Avoiding smoking
- Clearing your lungs using techniques like controlled coughing and huff coughing
- Avoiding things that could irritate your lungs such as smoke, dust, mold, mildew, trash and household chemicals
- Eating a healthy diet
- Using medications such as inhalers, nebulizers and oxygen
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR COPD
We offer medication management services as part of our COPD program. The main types of COPD medications are:
- Maintenance Medications – taken every day to control COPD symptoms and reduce flare-ups
- Rescue Inhalers – fast-acting COPD medication used when symptoms have gotten worse
- Oxygen Therapy – to increase the level of oxygen in the blood
COPD has no cure yet. However, lifestyle changes and COPD treatments can help you feel better, stay more active and slow the progress of the disease.
Learn more about our COPD program. Call a home health care center near you.
