Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that gradually makes breathing more difficult. It can turn everyday activities like climbing the stairs or walking the dog into exhausting tasks. More than two million Canadians live with COPD and its symptoms can take a toll not only on those diagnosed but also their caregivers. While caring for someone with COPD can be deeply rewarding—strengthening your bond and providing a sense of purpose—it can also be incredibly demanding, especially as the disease progresses.

As a caregiver, you play a crucial role in helping your loved one manage symptoms, follow their treatment plans and maintain their quality of life. However, balancing your loved one’s needs with your own well-being is essential to providing the right support.

Understanding COPD

What is COPD?

COPD is a progressive lung disease that causes restricted airflow, making breathing difficult. It includes two main conditions that worsen over time:

• Emphysema: Damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, reducing their ability to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream.
• Chronic bronchitis: Long-term inflammation and mucus buildup in the airways, causing a persistent cough and difficulty breathing.
  Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but long-term exposure to air pollution, workplace chemicals, dust or second-hand smoke can also contribute. In some cases, genetic factors—such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency—make the lungs more vulnerable to damage.

How Caregivers Can Help

While there is no cure, COPD can be managed with proper treatment, lifestyle changes and symptom monitoring to improve quality of life and slow disease progression. If you have a loved one living with COPD, here’s how you can help:

Support Treatment Plans

• Learn About COPD: Understand the symptoms, medications, treatment options and when to seek immediate medical attention.
• Assist With Daily Care: Help with medication schedules, inhaler use and oxygen therapy if prescribed.
• Stay Informed: Attend doctor’s appointments, ask questions and take notes.
• Access Expert Support: Call the Canadian Lung Association’s Lung Health Helpline at 1-866-717-2673 to talk to a certified respiratory educator who can answer questions and provide information.
• Set Goals. Help your loved one establish realistic goals and celebrate their accomplishments, both big and small.

Encourage Healthy Lifestyle Changes

• Support Smoking Cessation: If your loved one smokes, quitting is the most important step to slow disease progression. Encourage them to speak to a doctor, explore medication options, or join a smoking cessation program.
• Promote Good Nutrition: Provide meals rich in healthy fats and fiber to meet increased energy needs and help fight infections. Breathing difficulties can make eating challenging, so you may need to offer soft, high-calorie foods.
• Encourage Light Exercise: Activities like walking can help strengthen breathing muscles, improve stamina and boost overall well-being.
• Promote Social Connections: Encourage hobbies, activities and interactions that bring your loved one joy, helping to reduce feelings of isolation.

Create a Safe Home Environment

• Eliminate Smoke: Keep smoking out of the house and car and avoid items like fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and candles that produce smoke.
• Ventilate the Home: Use exhaust fans when cooking and avoid products with strong odours like perfumes, air fresheners or cleaning chemicals.
• Reduce Dust: Vacuum regularly and keep surfaces clean to minimize dust buildup.
• Monitor Air Quality: Have heating and cooling systems inspected annually and consider installing high-efficiency air filters to both systems. Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters can also be placed in the room(s) you spend most of your time in.

Support Daily Activities

• Assist with Chores: Help with grocery shopping, cleaning and other physically demanding tasks.
• Improve Accessibility: Consider setting up a bedroom on the ground floor and keep daily essentials within easy reach to minimize movement and strain.

Prevent Infections

• Encourage Vaccinations: Ensure your loved one receives recommended vaccines, including for influenza, pneumonia and COVID-19. Lung infections can cause additional damage to the airways in COPD patients, making vaccinations an especially important preventative measure.
• Promote Good Hygiene: Practice regular hand washing and masking in high-risk situations. Keep inhalers and nebulizers clean to prevent bacteria build-up.
• Avoid Exposure: Keep your loved one away from people who are sick, including asking visitors to stay away when they are unwell. If you are sick, try to maintain as much distance as possible and take extra precautions to prevent the spread of germs.
• Monitor Air Quality: Keep track of air quality and stay indoors when needed. Check the Air Quality Health Index for your community, here.

Watch for Warning Signs of Flare-Ups and Medical Emergencies

COPD Flare Up:
Flare-ups can make COPD symptoms suddenly worse. Tracking symptoms daily helps detect change early, allowing for faster treatment. Keep a written symptom log to share with the doctor and let them know immediately if you notice:

• Persistent or worsening cough
• Increased mucus production
• More shortness of breath, even at rest.
• Wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound when inhaling or exhaling)
• Chest tightness or discomfort

COPD Emergency:
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your loved one experiences:

• Sudden or severe difficulty breathing, even with medication
• Bluish or gray lips, fingertips or fingernails
• High fever (over 103 º F/ 39.4 º C)
• Confusion, dizziness or difficulty walking or talking
• Very fast or irregular heartbeat

Recognizing these warning signs early can help prevent hospitalizations and dramatically improve health outcomes.

Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver

Caring for someone with COPD can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It’s important to recognize when you need support and take steps to protect your well-being. With so much time devoted to caregiving, it’s easy to forget about yourself and overlook the signs of stress.

Common Signs of Caregiver Stress:

• Feeling overwhelmed, constantly worried or emotionally drained.
• Irritability, mood swings or increased frustration.
• Neglecting your own health, skipping meals or poor self-care.
• Unexpected weight changes.
• Trouble sleeping or feeling constantly fatigued.
• Withdrawing from family, friends or activities you once enjoyed.

Tips for Maintaining Your Well-Being

• Stay Connected: Keep in touch with family, friends and support networks. Engage in activities that bring you joy.
• Follow a Healthy Lifestyle: Eat nutritious meals, stay active and prioritize getting enough rest.
• Manage Stress: Use techniques like deep breathing, meditation or journaling. Consider professional counselling, if needed.
• Join a Caregiver Support Group: Connect with others facing similar challenges to share experiences and coping strategies.
• Get Help: Explore respite care options like VHA’s Respite and Renew: Caregiver Support program to take breaks from caregiving responsibilities. Ask family or friends for assistance with household duties like meals, cleaning, laundry or yard work.

As a caregiver, you take on multiple roles—care coordinator, advocate and financial advisor—all while managing your own responsibilities. Caring for someone with COPD requires patience, knowledge and resilience. It’s essential to find a support system, ask for help when needed and make time for self-care so you can continue to provide the best care possible.

---

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to read: 

• Helping a Loved One Live Well With Chronic Kidney Disease
• Coping With Diabetes Distress