Home Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Home Care of Chronic ObstructivePulmonary Disease Patients

Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDisease

•Disease state characterized by airflow that isnot fully reversible

–Emphysema

–Chronic bronchitis

–Small airway disease

•Fourth leading cause of death

Home Care Programs can..

•Educate patients about the disease, treatmentoptions, and coping strategies.

•Educate patients to manage the disease andreduce the dependence on healthprofessionals and costly medical resources.

•Maintain healthy behaviors—such as smokingcessation, good nutrition, and exercise—in anattempt to reduce the impact of COPD

Cigna & Cigna. 2005. Rehabilitation for the Home Care Patient With COPD

Home Care Programs can..

•Help with medications and oxygen therapymanagement.

•Help with secretions management.

•Reduce and control breathing difficulties andother symptoms.

•Improve activity tolerance and the ability toperform usual daily activities.

Cigna & Cigna. 2005. Rehabilitation for the Home Care Patient With COPD

Important Tasks to be Done

•Pulmonary rehabilitation

–Disease education and cardiovascular conditioning

•Medications

–Bronchodilators, anticholinergic agents, betaagonists, glucocorticoids, theophylline, oxygentherapy

•Regular health visits

•Equipment

Important Tasks to be Done

•Monitoring of patient’s condition (Things to watch outfor)

–Excessive trouble in breathing during everyday activities

–Greater than usual coughing or chest pain during cough

–Increased mucus production or change in the appearanceof the mucus

–Swelling in the hands or feet

–Ramping of muscles

–Tiredness or weakness

–Headaches, insomnia, confusion

–Trouble in sleeping related to shortness of breath