According to recent research, the knowledge that doctors have of COPD is very much lacking. This is definitely an area of opportunity to help improve the quality of life for senior citizens as many elderly folk die each year from this disease. For one, many people do not know the risk factors associated with the disease. Many of the people diagnosed with the disease also don’t know how to live healthily once it is suspected that they have COPD.
COPD is the third most common cause of death in the United States. It affects seniors the most severely, especially those that are smokers or were formerly smokers. And of those that have the disease, it’s estimated that at least one third of those people do not know what stage of the disease they are currently in. There’s also a huge gap in the information available about COPD, and the number of people with the disease that have up to date info.
One thing that is currently an issue is the level of care that those affected by the disease are receiving. COPD is a disease that affects all aspects of life, and care is a necessity. This ranges from in-home care, to a great primary care physician, to planning ahead for the future. If there is a good support structure in place, life with COPD can be a little bit better. It’s definitely not something that will ever be easy, but there are things that can be done to help. And it all starts with a good support structure where information and care is available.
If you have COPD, or have an elderly loved one with the disease, there are some steps that you can take to help. First, acknowledge the difficulties. 40 percent of people with the disease are retired, 28 percent receive disability, and just 15 percent work. These are all problems that need to be addressed. Second, know what the symptoms are. These include shortness of breath during everyday activities, difficulty catching breath once it’s lost, and an extreme loss of energy. Having support to take the burden of work off of you can help quite a bit. This is where senior care comes in, be it in-home care, assisted living, or something else. A professional caregiver is there to help with daily tasks, and when these become difficult, the caregiver makes it much easier to get through each day.
The last step is to be patient. COPD does not have a cure, but it is possible to live with the disease. Life doesn’t need to be a chore, though. By knowing how to best live with the disease, you can take charge of life. Get the assistance you and your family need. When even little things like talking are hard, having a support structure in place is a must. Hire a professional caregiver, get up to date information, and take the burden of care off of the people you love. By taking these easy steps, a difficult disease does not need to equal a difficult life.
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