Taking care of your own, or a loved one’s, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re struggling with exhaustion, shortness of breath, and other troublesome symptoms. When managing this condition becomes too much to handle, professional home health care can provide the kind of support and assistance you need. VNSNY’s highly skilled and trained professionals often work together as a team and provide a broad array of services.

Our professionals

• Registered nurses who work closely with your doctor to manage at-home care. During a visit to your home, a nurse will do a complete assessment of your needs as they relate to COPD and any other conditions you may have, assess your breathing, and develop a personalized plan of care for you; this will include taking your medications properly, monitoring your breathing, and managing stress and your lifestyle. Afterwards, the nurse will coordinate the delivery of services and revise your plan as necessary.
• Certified home health aides who can provide personal care (such as bathing or dressing), check vital signs (like blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates), and help you keep track of your symptoms. They can also shop for and prepare healthy meals that may be prescribed by a doctor, as well as assist with laundry and household chores.
• Home attendants (a.k.a., personal care workers) who can help with basic activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, grooming, making yourself more comfortable at home, walking, eating, shopping, paying bills, doing laundry, changing the bedding, and taking you to medical appointments.
• Licensed social workers who can assess your physical, functional, emotional, environmental, and social needs and offer strategies and resources for support. (People with COPD often suffer from depression, which can make it harder to follow your treatment plan.) Social workers can also step in and offer assistance if family relationships become strained as a result of caring for a loved one with severe COPD.
• Registered dietitians who will evaluate your nutritional and hydration needs and develop a meal plan that ensures you get the nutrients you need without making it difficult to breathe after meals
• Rehabilitation therapists who can devise a plan for improving breathing. These include: physical therapists who can provide exercises to help improve your breathing, strength, and endurance, and techniques to help clear your lungs effectively; occupational therapists who can simplify how you perform daily tasks; and speech therapists who can help you manage swallowing difficulties.  

To make at-home care successful, prepare ahead of time by making a list of responsibilities and chores you’d like the caregiver to take on, so you can be sure you’ll receive the help you need and won’t forget anything that’s important to you. It's also wise to map out a schedule for meals, medications, sleep, exercise, and other activities, and to compile a list of emergency phone numbers for doctors, as well as friends and family members who can help in a pinch. This way, everyone will have the same expectations.