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.


 

 

Coping With Dementia: 10 steps to gain more cooperation with simple tasks

August 28, 2025
How can we increase the level of cooperation we get from a loved one coping with dementia? A loved one with dementia may resist simple routines that we, as caregivers, need for them to complete so they can maintain proper hygiene or enable us to run a household. It may be a simple task, like taking a shower or getting dressed - or brushing their teeth before they go to bed. A good way to start is to recognize that we are about to face a challenge . Like any challenge we face, it’s best to get ready before we begin. Be prepared! Gather everything that will be needed to complete the task and arrange those things in the order that they’ll be needed. Be sure to have everything at hand that will be needed when the task is completed. For instance, are we brushing our teeth in the morning? Have the bathing set up as the next task or be ready to dress and go to the dining table. Have patience, remember that this will take longer than normal. Budgeting more time will reduce your own stress, and that is key in reducing theirs. Remember, they are cognitively disabled . It’s frequently not that they’re resisting your instructions, it’s simply that they are having difficulty processing them - it will take them longer to understand and cooperate than normal. One of our biggest goals is to avoid making them feel pressured, rushed or agitated . Maintaining this level of structure will be comforting to your loved one and will decrease confusion and stress. It will also reduce distractions that might be inadvertently introduced by being less than organized. We may be doing something simple, but it’s no longer simple to a loved one suffering from dementia. Have you ever assembled a piece of furniture from IKEA? Keep that in mind – you needed step by step instructions. Did they always make sense as you progressed? Nope. Did you ever get frustrated? You bet. This is the same thing. Give them simple steps, one step at a time . Think from a new perspective. “Let’s go brush our teeth,” doesn’t really lead them to beginning or completion. How about: 1 - let’s go to the bathroom 2 - can you stand in front of the sink? 3 - let’s rinse your toothbrush - we need to make sure it’s clean! 4 - perhaps try doing your own side by side as an example 5 - can you open the toothpaste now? 6 - squeeze a line of toothpaste onto your brush, like this, see? 7 - now, put the toothbrush into your mouth, brush like I’m doing 8 - top now - left side, center, now on the right - inside, like this 9 - bottom now - left side, center, now on the right - inside, like this 10 - now, we’re almost done. Take your brush and rinse it 11 - put the brush back into the holder 12 - put some water in the cup 13 - now just rinse your mouth 14 - spit the water back into the sink Try to let them do as much on their own as possible. It will build confidence and reduce their stress, step in and help as needed. You’ll see for yourself how deeply you need to break down tasks and learn from their responses when to help, praise or comfort. Try not to take over and do steps for them when they may be able to complete the step themselves. If they are able, that may convey impatience. We’re trying to encourage a sense of competency and autonomy - even if a step is not taken perfectly. To learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease follow these links. 1 - https://www.ascendhealth.com/coping-with-alzheimers-anxiety-and-depression 2 - https://www.ascendhealth.com/alzheimers-caregiving-7-signs-its-time-for-extra-support 3 - creating dementia-friendly documents https://bit.ly/3H9g6WD Our teams offer specialized care for those living with end-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our supportive team focuses on improving quality of life and easing the distressing burdens of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Learn more about how we can help bring comfort and support by reaching out to a member of our compassionate team.

Gene Hackman’s Final Lesson: A Wake-Up Call for Caregivers and Families

June 30, 2025
A few months ago, beloved actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their New Mexico home. Investigators believe Arakawa passed away first—possibly up to a week before Hackman. Shortly before her death, she had reached out to a local clinic . Later, Hackman’s pacemaker data helped confirm the timeline of his own passing. The medical examiner determined that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome , a rare and dangerous respiratory illness transmitted by rodents. Hackman died from advanced heart disease , with Alzheimer’s disease contributing to his decline. Experts suggest that his cognitive impairment likely prevented him from recognizing Arakawa’s death—or, if he did realize it, he may have experienced confusion, heartbreak, and helplessness before ultimately passing away himself. We may consider Gene Hackman’s last role to be his final lesson, a wake-up call for caregivers and families. It’s a profoundly tragic story—one that reflects a reality many families quietly face. As our loved ones age, especially when one becomes the caregiver, a sudden health crisis can leave the other stranded in a dangerous situation. What Can We Learn? This heartbreaking story offers more than grief—it offers perspective. It’s a reminder to be proactive, observant, and involved in the lives of aging loved ones. Here’s ways we can help. 1. Know the Conditions Affecting Your Loved Ones In Hackman’s case, the central health challenges were heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Recognizing the signs of heart trouble—chest pain, fatigue, breathlessness—and understanding how dementia can mask or confuse those symptoms is critical. 2. Caregivers Need Care Too When the caregiver goes down, the one who relies on them is suddenly exposed. Arakawa’s sudden illness likely left Hackman alone, disoriented, and unable to seek help. Caregivers often suffer in silence, pushing past their limits. Regular check-ins and support for them are just as essential. 3. A Simple Visit Can Save a Life A timely visit from a friend or relative might have changed the outcome. Subtle signs—rodent activity, spoiled food, confusion, hygiene issues—could have triggered help before it was too late. Don’t underestimate the power of simply showing up. What to Watch For: A Family Checklist If you have aging parents, relatives, or friends, here are some key areas to keep an eye on: Physical Health • Sudden weight loss or gain • Bruises, burns, or signs of falls • Unkempt appearance or body odor • Difficulty walking or standing Cognitive & Emotional Well-being • Memory loss or repeating questions • Depression, anxiety, or social withdrawal • Unsafe behavior such as leaving appliances on • Unusual mail or phone activity Home Conditions • Spoiled food, pest presence, or clutter • Safety hazards (dim lighting, loose rugs) • Appliances or plumbing not working Nutrition & Kitchen Safety • Expired food or low food supply • Dirty or neglected kitchen tools • Avoiding cooking altogether Medication Compliance • Confused about medications or missed doses • Expired or improperly labeled prescriptions Social Interaction • Isolation or reluctance to leave the house • Loss of interest in hobbies or community involvement Financial Awareness • Unpaid bills or unopened mail • Signs of financial exploitation or scams Tech & Communication • Can they use a phone in an emergency? • Are they responsive to calls or messages? What To Do If You Notice a Problem If you see red flags, don’t panic—but don’t ignore them either. Start with an honest, caring conversation. Explain that your concern comes from love, not judgment. Then, consider next steps: • Schedule a check-up with their doctor • Bring in help, even part-time support • Assess whether the home needs modifications • Explore new living arrangements if necessary Whether it’s weekly dinners, video chats, or simple texts—stay involved–consistent contact keeps you in tune with your loved ones’ needs and builds a safety net they may not even know they need. Final Thought If Gene Hackman’s last role is to serve as a final lesson, it’s a wake-up call for caregivers and families. Gene Hackman’s final days are a sobering reminder: Don’t wait until something goes wrong. Aging can be beautiful—but it also comes with risk, especially in solitude. Let this story motivate you to reconnect, check in, and truly see how your loved ones are doing. Additional Resources: Learn more about Congestive Heart Failure: https://www.ascendhealth.com/caring-for-a-loved-one-with-chf-this-summer https://www.ascendhealth.com/caring-for-a-loved-one-with-chf Learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: https://www.ascendhealth.com/alzheimers-caregiving-7-signs-its-time-for-extra-support https://www.ascendhealth.com/coping-with-alzheimers-anxiety-and-depression Need a health or safety assessment for a loved one? Contact Us or call today.