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March 2021 Lancaster County Office of Aging
Caregiving in 150 N Queen St, Suite 415, Lancaster PA 17603
717-299-7979 email: aging@co.lancaster.pa.us
The Comfort of Home®
Caregiver Assistance News
“ C a r i n g f o r y o u … c a r i n g f o r o t h e r s ”
Covid-19 and Lung Disease
Having a chronic lung disease means ◆◆ s welling of the
that a person may be in the high-risk feet, ankles,
category for severe illness and comp- and legs
lications from Covid-19. Therefore, it
is important to follow all the guidelines Some people think
to minimize the risk of infection, such that using oxygen
as staying home to be physically dis- will reduce their
independence, or they
tanced from others, washing hands,
will become addicted
using hand sanitizer. Don't touch your
to it. However, oxygen
face and when you must go out—wear
therapy can greatly
a mask.
improve energy
The Covid-19 virus can damage
levels, the ability to
the lungs, heart and brain, increas-
breathe, and overall quality of life.
ing the risk of persistent health
Using this therapy can add years to a
problems. Covid can scar the lungs’
person’s life. The doctor will use
tiny air sacs and cause long-term
various tests to find out when, and
breathing difficulty even if the scars
how much, oxygen is needed.
partially heal.
Lung Health Emergencies Oxygen Containers
Adapted from The Comfort of Home: Caregiver Series, © 2021 CareTrust Publications. www.comfortofhome.com
Oxygen comes in different kinds of
If the person in your care is hav- containers and is given through soft
ing a flare-up from lung disease or prongs inserted into the nose, or
experiencing new symptoms, call the through a tube inserted surgically
doctor. During this time of Covid, it is directly into the throat.
more important than ever to maintain
control of chronic lung disease, includ- Liquid oxygen—oxygen is stored as
ing taking medications as prescribed. a very cold liquid in a container like
When lung disease (COPD) pro- a thermos. When released the liquid
gresses to the point that the lungs changes to a gas that is breathed like
can’t supply enough oxygen to meet compressed gas; the liquid can be
the needs of the body, the doctor transferred to small portable contain-
may prescribe home oxygen therapy. ers; liquid oxygen is more expensive
Symptoms that show oxygen may be than compressed gas.
needed—
Concentrator—this electrically
◆◆ excessive sleepiness
powered device separates the oxygen
◆◆ morning headaches and irritability from the air, concentrates it, and then
◆◆ poor concentration stores it; a tank of oxygen is needed in
◆◆ worsening shortness of breath case of power failures.Caregiving in The Comfort of Home® C a r e g i v e r Assista n c e N e ws l e tte r March 2021
Oxygen tanks—oxygen is stored under pressure in a tank with a regulator that
controls the oxygen flow rate; the tanks can be large or portable.
The doctor will prescribe a specific flow rate of oxygen, and you will need to
make sure that not too much, or too little, is given. Different flow rates may be
given for sleeping and when active. Care must be taken to avoid having
anything flammable in the room where the oxygen container is kept,
such as a cigarette lighter or gas range.
Belly Breathing and Pursed-Lip Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, helps a
person to relax and get more air out of the lungs. Have the person in your
care practice this breathing technique by sitting in a comfortable chair
or lying down. Have her put one hand on her abdomen and one hand on
her chest. As she breathes in, have her notice how the abdominal muscles
relax and then, as she exhales, tell her to tighten the abdominal muscles
to help push air out. The chest should not move. The exhalation (breathing
out) should always take longer than the inhalation (breathing in). It is very
important that the person in your care does these exercises while calm and
relaxed so she will be able to get into the habit of breathing this way.
Pursed-lip breathing helps to keep the breathing tubes open during
exhalation and to improve the ability to slowly get more air out of the
lungs. This type of breathing is used mainly for people with COPD
(emphysema or bronchitis). To practice this technique, have the person
in your care take a breath in through the nose and slowly let the breath
out through pursed lips (as if she was whistling). Pursed-lip breathing
and belly breathing are done together.
Conserve Energy
People with COPD must conserve their energy so they won’t become exhausted.
Encourage the person to—
■■ take it easy; move slowly
■■ sit while doing chores
© 2021 CareTrust Publications
■■ avoid lifting and bending; keep household items within easy reach
■■ rest after eating
■■ use a cart with wheels to carry things
■■ use helping devices such as a long-handled reacher or long-handled tongs
2 ■■ use a bath bench and hand-held shower head in the bathtubCaregiving in The Comfort of Home® C a r e g i v e r Assista n c e N e ws l e tte r March 2021
—
Caring for Adult Children
Taking Care of Yourself — Know Your Limits
st continue
es, bec au se an ac cid ent lef t a child disabled, parents mu
Sometim
the ir chi ldren lon g aft er the child moves into adulthood.
to care for
ch as
from progressive conditions su
Maybe the adult child suffers
ntal
on’s disease or has developme
multiple sclerosis or Huntingt
disabilities.
ficult to give the same level of
As you age, it will be more dif
reful if caregiving is taking a
care that you once did. Be ca
ns
d realize your physical limitatio
physical toll on your health an
d out
al Area Agency on Aging to fin
and ask for help. Call your loc
r area.
about respite programs in you
Inspiration
Live Life Laughing! Courage is being scared to
death—and saddling up anyway.
I’ll be your doctor today. — John Wayne
Can I hear you laugh?
Memory Care -
Practice Patience
If the person in your care
repeats the same story over
and over, take pleasure in
how much he enjoys the
© 2021 CareTrust Publications
story, rather than being
frustrated because you have
heard it before.
3Caregiving in
The Comfort of Home®
Our Purpose
To provide caregivers with critical
information enabling them to do their job Safety Tips—Avoiding Irritants
with confidence, pride, and competence.
Ordering Info
People with COPD may be affected by irritating substances in the
From the publishers of
air, or they may have allergies to airborne allergens (substances
Caregiving in that are carried on the air that cause allergic reactions like
The Comfort of Home®
Caregiver Series
sneezing or watery eyes) such as pollen. Any kind of air pollution
available from…
inside or outside of the home should be avoided, including dust,
CareTrust Publications LLC smoke, fumes from wood or coal-burning stoves, and strong odors
PO Box 10283, Portland, OR 97296 in general. Some people are highly allergic to mold and may have
800-565-1533 trouble breathing if they are exposed to it.
or www.comfortofhome.com
Comments and suggestions welcome.
The most important thing a person with lung disease can
©2021 CareTrust Publications LLC.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any do is STOP SMOKING. Smoking is the number one cause
component of this publication is forbidden
without a license from the publisher.
of COPD and can make any kind of lung disease worse.
Some content in this publication is excerpted Medications are available that can help a person stop smoking
from The Comfort of Home: Caregivers Series.
It is for informational use and not health advice.
(such as the “patch”). Sometimes even multiple medications
It is not meant to replace medical care but to may be needed. Eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water
supplement it. The publisher assumes no
liability with respect to the accuracy, and juice, and taking vitamin supplements can make with-
completeness or application of information drawal easier and less uncomfortable.
presented or the reader’s misunderstanding
of the text.
NEXT ISSUE… Communication SkillsCaregiving in The Comfort of Home® Covid-19 and Lung Disease—March 2021
Caregiver Assistance News
“ C a r i n g f o r y o u … c a r i n g f o r o t h e r s ”
Q u i c k Q u i z
Doctors don’t yet know how long it will take patients to regain their pre-Covid lung
strength and endurance. However, the earlier patients start their rehabilitation, the
faster they begin to bounce back. Answer True or False to the questions below.
1. iaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, helps a person to relax
D
and get more air out of the lungs.
TF
2. xygen therapy can greatly improve energy levels, the ability to breathe, and
O
overall quality of life.
TF
3. W
hen lung disease progresses to the point that the lungs can’t supply enough
oxygen to meet the needs of the body, the doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy.
TF
4. Mold generally doesn’t bother people with COPD.
TF
5. he most important thing a person with lung disease can do is STOP
T
SMOKING. Smoking can make any kind of lung disease worse.
TF
6. Care must be taken to avoid having anything flammable in the room where
the oxygen container is kept, such as a cigarette lighter or gas range.
KEY: 1. T; 2. T; 3. T; 4. F; 5. T; 6. T; 7. T; 8. T; 9. T; 10. F
TF
7. aving a chronic lung disease means that a person may be in the high-risk
H
category for severe illness and complications from Covid-19.
TF
8. he Covid-19 virus can damage the lungs, heart and brain, increasing the risk
T
of persistent health problems.
TF
9. Using this oxygen therapy can add years to a person’s life.
TF
10. orsening shortness of breath and swelling of the feet, ankles and legs is not
W
a sign that oxygen therapy may be needed.
© 2021 CareTrust Publications
TF
Name
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