COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a chronic and lifelong lung disease that has no cure and gets worse over the years. There are four stages of the disease, ranging from mild to severe. End-stage COPD is the last stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The majority of people with COPD reach it after years of living with the disease and the lung damage it creates in their bodies. When a loved one reaches an end-stage COPD time, having a hospice supportive care team will help you and your loved one deal with what lies ahead.
COPD will affect everyone differently, and the progression of the disease is also very different for each person. The timeline and stages that your loved one will hit are uncertain as you step into the world of caring for a person with a chronic disease. For most individuals, the symptoms will continue to worsen over time and may eventually reach the final stages of the condition.
End-stage COPD Symptoms
During the end stages of COPD, your loved one’s struggle to breathe will continue to get worse. Those earlier symptoms of coughing, shortness of breath, excess mucus, and overall fatigue become more frequent and intense. Flare-ups are frequent and more severe.
In addition, your loved one may begin to experience additional symptoms such as:
- Constant wheezing
- A noticeable crackling sound whenever he tries to take a deep breath
- Being consistently out of breath, even when resting
- A heartbeat that is irregular or very fast at all times
- Delirium or confusion
- Weight loss
- More extreme fatigue
- Repeated infections
Some people in the final stages of COPD will also develop chronic respiratory failure. Chronic respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot move enough oxygen into the blood or the lungs are unable to take enough carbon dioxide out of the blood.
At this stage, your loved one will struggle with everyday activities, severely limiting his quality of life. He may not be able to garner enough energy to get dressed each day, move around the home, or even enjoy a good meal. It can be hard to watch your loved one lose more and more of his independence.
As he reaches the end stages of the disease, you and your family will need to make some tough decisions about what his care should look like and how you can best create a place for him that offers comfort, support, and care.
Hospice Supportive Care Options for End-Stage COPD
When your loved one reaches a point where he is expected to have six months or less left of life, hospice supportive care is an option to help you and him manage all aspects of your loved one’s final days from his home if desired. While it’s not possible to know everything that you’ll need in the coming months, hospice supportive care can help you create plans for the following situations so that you aren’t overwhelmed by them when they occur.
- How to best manage pain and other symptoms
- What actions to take when your loved one is unable to breathe
- Where does your loved one want to spend their final days
- Guiding you and your loved one through the power of attorney, living will, and other legal and medical documents that might be needed
This time can be especially hard for all involved. Having a caring hospice supportive care team can help families manage the hard road ahead of them.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Hospice Supportive Care Services in Manheim, PA, please contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care Lancaster today. Call (717) 391-6363
Extended Family Care Lancaster is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, including Columbia, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Hershey, Lebanon, Lititz, Manheim, New Holland, and Paradise.
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