CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WITH COPD

January 9, 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, chronic disease. COPD is also a leading cause of disability and death in the United States. As the disease progresses, caring for a loved one with COPD can be overwhelming and challenging. Symptoms can be frightening and hard to manage without the expert care hospice or palliative care brings. We hope our blog provides insights to help you understand COPD and empowers you to care for a loved one with this devastating disease.

 

UNDERSTANDING COPD

COPD is an umbrella term for a range of progressive lung diseases. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema can both result in COPD. According to the American Lung Association, the airways in your lungs become inflamed and thickened with COPD, and the tissue where oxygen is exchanged is destroyed. The flow of air in and out of your lungs decreases. When that happens, less oxygen gets into your body tissues, and it becomes harder to rid the body of carbon dioxide waste. As the disease gets worse, shortness of breath makes it harder to remain active.

 

COPD is a chronic disease with no cure. COPD is also a progressive disease and can gradually get worse. How fast it progresses from mild to severe varies from person to person. The primary, or main, cause of COPD is smoking. But not all smokers develop the disease.

 

COPD SYMPTOMS

Living with COPD has both mental and physical challenges that cold winter days can amplify. The change in season and drop in temperature can cause COPD symptoms to worsen, and you may notice your loved one struggling even more than usual, potentially resulting in unexpected trips to the emergency room (ER) and hospital stays.

 

In the early stages of COPD, symptoms will be milder. Your loved one will likely feel out of breath with activities like walking up stairs. They may attribute symptoms to “getting older.” In these early days their lifestyle will be less impacted than in later stages.


As COPD progresses into later stages, symptoms will increase and become more difficult to manage without expert support. Your loved one will struggle more with shortness of breath. Their lifestyle will feel greatly impacted as almost any activity will lead to shortness of breath. COPD patients in later stages may make frequent trips to the ER or be admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled symptoms.


ACCEPTING SUPPORT

As a family caregiver it may be difficult for you to accept support. Many of us take on this role believing that it is solely our responsibility. Accepting support may feel like you’re giving up the care of your loved one to someone else. But it’s important to understand that when caring for a loved one with a serious illness like COPD, gaining the support of an expert team will help you ensure the best care possible. You will also remain an active part of the caregiving team when partnering with Ascend Hospice & Palliative Care. We bring an extra layer of expert care and support that works alongside the care you give to your loved one.


Accepting support also helps you be a better caregiver. The emotional and physical stress of caring for a loved one with COPD can be overwhelming. Accepting support, allowing hospice to “share the care,” can help you avoid caregiver burnout and empower you to care for your loved one.


HOW CAN HOSPICE HELP A LOVED ONE WITH COPD


While there is no cure for this chronic and progressive disease, Ascend Hospice & Palliative Care can greatly improve quality of life. Our team of caregivers, including registered nurses and hospice physicians, is uniquely trained in the management of COPD. Through highly skilled care that controls symptoms and reduces anxiety, discomfort and stress, Ascend reduces the burden of illness and enhances quality of life.


-   Ascend Hospice CNAs help with everyday responsibilities that may become more difficult for your loved one, like bathing, grooming, changing linens, light housekeeping and simple meal preparation.

-   Our expert care helps control distressing symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, depression and anxiety.

-   Our hospice care offers patient-focused care with individual plans of care and 24/7 access to Ascend nurses. This support helps reduce ER visits and hospitalizations.

-   We help you feel empowered by ensuring you understand COPD and how to prepare for your loved one’s changing needs.

-   Our care includes physical, emotional and spiritual support focused on whole-person well-being.

-   Ascend Hospice provides and oversees all equipment, supplies and medications related to your loved one’s COPD.

 

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CONSIDER HOSPICE CARE?

Ascend offers both hospice and palliative care for COPD patients. Our palliative care services are available during any stage of COPD. Ascend Palliative Care provides symptom management and helps ease the stress and burden of illness. Hospice becomes an option when your focus turns from seeking a cure to seeking quality for the time that remains, usually six months or less. Hospice often becomes a choice when a loved one or you are seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality. Your loved one’s increasing discomfort and symptoms can help determine when the full support of hospice care would be more beneficial than palliative care. Hospice care may be a choice when your loved one is:


-   Spending more time sleeping or resting in a favorite chair

-   Experiencing repeated cases of bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung infections

-   Experiencing increasing shortness of breath, even at rest

-   Having more difficulty with daily care like grooming, bathing, eating or dressing

-   Visiting the ER for frightening or uncontrolled symptoms

-   Experiencing a decline in physical endurance and requiring oxygen use for the majority of the time or all the time

-   Feeling their medications are no longer as effective

-   Showing signs of decreased appetite and unexplained weight loss 

 

At Ascend Hospice & Palliative Care we believe in the combined power of compassion, expert care, real support and understanding. Every day we empower those in our care to live more fully. Our care is not about giving up, but about hope. If you are struggling with caring for a loved one with a serious illness like COPD, we can walk beside you. We can help you determine when our palliative care or hospice care may be the best option. Reach out to us for support, answers and comfort — you don’t have to face COPD alone.


 

 

10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day

April 28, 2025
Losing a mother is never easy, and Mother’s Day can be an emotional time. Honoring her memory in meaningful ways can bring comfort and keep her spirit alive. Here are ten thoughtful ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day: 1. Visit Her Resting Place Spend time at her gravesite or memorial, bringing fresh flowers, her favorite items, or just sitting and reflecting on her love and legacy. 2. Cook Her Favorite Meal Prepare a dish she loved or a recipe she passed down. Sharing a meal in her honor can be a comforting way to feel close to her. 3. Write Her a Letter Express how much you miss her, update her on your life, or share a special memory. Writing can be a powerful way to process emotions and keep her close. 4. Light a Candle in Her Memory Lighting a candle in her honor can be a quiet, reflective way to feel her presence and express your love. 5. Look Through Old Photos & Videos Take time to revisit cherished moments by flipping through photo albums or watching home videos . It’s a beautiful way to celebrate her life and legacy. 6. Do Something She Loved Whether it’s gardening, painting, reading, or taking a walk in nature, engaging in her favorite activities can be a meaningful tribute. 7. Make a Donation in Her Name Give to a charity or cause she cared about . It’s a wonderful way to extend her kindness and make a difference in her honor. 8. Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook Compile photos, letters, and stories into a scrapbook or digital memory book that keeps her spirit alive for future generations. 9. Plant a Tree or Flowers in Her Honor Planting something in her memory can be a lasting tribute, symbolizing growth, love, and the continuation of her legacy. 10. Spend Time with Family & Share Stories Gather with loved ones to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate the love she gave. Keeping her memory alive through storytelling can be healing and uplifting. No matter how you choose to honor your mom, the most important thing is to celebrate the love and impact she had on your life. We hope these 10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day helps readers celebrate this Mother’s Day. Also read here about surviving the first Mother’s Day without Mom .

12 Important Things To Understand About Hospice

February 27, 2025
Our expert care enriches life by controlling symptoms and managing pain, while also caring for the mind and spirit. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one is seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality of life. Serious illness affects more than just a loved one. So, our support extends to family caregivers . We become an extra layer of support by sharing our experience and resources to ensure that you and your loved ones feel prepared by knowing what to expect as illness progresses. We also help you feel less overwhelmed by sharing in some of the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of your loved one. We also understand the worry that comes with serious illness. When a loved one is living with a serious illness, a price can’t be put on peace of mind. Here 12 things that are important to understand about hospice. 1 - Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats a person rather than the disease. Hospice is a complete and cohesive program of medical care and emotional/spiritual support to improve the quality of life for patients facing a life-limiting illness. 2 - When treatment is no longer effective or desired, hospice care can be provided for pain relief and symptom control , along with emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones. 3 - Hospice care takes a holistic approach focusing on both physical and emotional health. 4 - In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for their loved one. 5 - The caregiver works with our team to develop a plan of care to provide treatment, support, and personal care. 6 - Your physician remains in charge of the overall medical care, we become a part of his team. 7 - Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s finding comfort and dignity after you’ve been told nothing more can be done. 8 - You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. You can re-enroll in a hospice program any time that you meet the medical eligibility criteria. 9 - Medications and medical interventions are used regularly to control pain and symptoms. 10 - Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than those that do not receive hospice care. 11 - Hospice care is provided anywhere your loved one lives, including private residences, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. 12 - Our care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. We understand that choosing to stop curative treatments and begin care and comfort services can be overwhelming. If you have questions like ' is now the right time’ or if you wonder ‘when will the right time be”, you can call and speak to one of our clinical directors. An Ascend nurse or social worker can meet with you and your family members and provide information on all of the services available to you. Once you are ready your physician, our team of nurses, our medical director, and our chaplains, social workers, and aides will be with you and your family on every part of your journey ensuring that your care and comfort are our first priority.