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Elder Care for the Client with COPD

Elder Care in Margate FL

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also commonly referred to as COPD, is a very serious health condition that can affect people as they age. The most significant risk factor associated with COPD is smoking, but other people can develop this condition as well.

Getting proper elder care for somebody with COPD can have a lasting impact on the quality of their life. Below are some interesting facts about COPD that family members and others should learn so that they make the right decisions for proper care for the elderly individual in their life who has been diagnosed with this very serious condition.

COPD can strike well before a person reaches their Golden Years. It usually develops between 20 to 30 years after a person begins smoking. It is commonly diagnosed in what is considered middle age. In fact, half of COPD patients are under 65, according to WebMD.

COPD can affect men and women equally. However, while men were the primary target of this disease in the first part of the 20th century, thanks to marketing efforts of tobacco manufacturers, more girls began smoking and that led to an increase in COPD cases among women of middle age. In 2000, more women died of COPD than men for the first time in history.  COPD is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. It can force a person to stop working due to their difficulty breathing.

There are many effective treatments for somebody who has been diagnosed with COPD. The most important first thing is the individual should stop smoking as soon as possible. There are many effective methods to help with this, including prescription medications, patches, nicotine gum, and now e-cigarettes.

It’s also important for people with COPD to get the right level of exercise, learn as much as possible about the disease, get proper nutrition and develop coping skills for when there are flare-ups.

There are also bronchodilators and corticosteroids that can help alleviate many severe symptoms, including shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy may also be necessary, especially for individuals who are considered elderly or in advanced stages of the disease.

For any senior who requires some type of elderly healthcare associated with COPD, it’s crucial that they get an experienced caregiver to work with them on a regular basis to provide any type of support and assistance they require. This could include helping them get up and down stairs, get exercise, eat right, and take care of many basic tasks throughout the day.

If you or a family member near Margate, FL are in need of elder care services, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing Service in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Coconut Creek, Taramac, Margate, and surrounding Florida cities.

Stephen Sternbach

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