Integrity Point of View Articles
November is COPD Awareness Month
By: Integrity Home Care + Hospice
What is COPD?
Integrity Home Care + Hospice is proud to help bring awareness to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a disease that causes restricted airflow from the lungs due to chronic inflammation caused by consistent exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke and/or other particulate matter. While COPD is a progressive disease—meaning it gets worse over time—it is treatable, and with sufficient management, patients can still achieve a good quality of life.
COPD and COVID
With the recent surge of COVID 19 cases in our community, Integrity Home Care + Hospice is challenging community partners to support patients and families in completing their advanced directives and goals of care discussion, especially those living with COPD. While COPD does not increase the risk of getting COVID 19, according to the latest data provided by the CDC—individuals who have COPD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and contract COVID have a higher risk of complications and poorer outcomes.
Integrity Home Care & Hospice is passionate about helping people stay safe wherever they call home—honoring and protecting their health care wishes, including avoiding emergency or unplanned care. If you or a loved one lives with COPD, the CDC recommends that all medications including steroids are continued, that you be sure to have a 30-day supply at all times, and that you avoid triggers that exacerbate your symptoms.
COPD and “Goals of Care” with Integrity Home Care + Hospice
Can a loved one correctly describe how you would like to be treated if you became ill? Scheduling a “goals of care” discussion with Integrity Home Care + Hospice can help answer that question and many others. As we continue to strive for our goal to complete over 200 individual goals of care discussions within the community, we are making it even easier to participate by offering complimentary “goals of care” consultations through the end of the year. Through these discussions, we will offer additional patient and family education on COPD, along with tips on how to stay safe at home with this condition. You and your family can expect:
- Patient and family understanding of their illness and disease progression
- Discussion with patient and family regarding goals of care and prioritization of what matters most
- Review any symptom management, psychosocial, and spiritual needs
- Support confirmation and/or completion of Advanced Directives
- Written summary including any recommendations to provider
To initiate a complimentary consult for you or a loved one living with COPD, please call 855-442-4968 and specify “goals of care discussion.” We look forward to the opportunity to meet your family’s health care needs right at home!