COPD, also known as chronic obstructive pulomonary disease, is a condition affecting your lung's ability to intake air effectively. This breathing condition has no known cure and is progressive, meaning it gets worse as time passes by, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Taking care of a parent suffering from the end stages of COPD requires close contact with his doctor and ensuring the comfort of your parent.
Step 1
Develop an emergency plan for your parent in the event that breathing becomes shallow or talking is difficult, suggests the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. Listing emergency phone numbers for her doctor, ambulance and other family members is helpful if her condition worsens. Although she is in the end stages, some parents do not have living will or do-not-resuscitate orders, so treatment is preferred.
Step 2
Listen to your parent's concerns and feelings. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, COPD sufferers experience depression and other emotional issues regarding their last days and family members well-being. Allow him to speak openly and honestly with you, giving sympathy and compassion.
Step 3
Seek counseling or therapy from a licensed mental healthcare physician. Keeping your well-being in check will help you to effectively support and care for your parent. According to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute, end-of-life care workers, such as those at a hospice, are trained to support caregivers such as yourself. Don't be afraid to talk with your parent's hospice nurse or doctor about your own emotions.
Step 4
Follow a regular pain control and symptom control schedule to make your parent comfortable. If hospice is involved, medications are administered by your parent's hospice nurse. If hospice is not involved, it is important to ensure that medications are given on time. Breathing treatments, pain medications and respiratory medications are just a few of the treatments that you may have to administer, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Step 5
Assist your parent in final decisions. During this time, she may be wanting to set things in order to make her passing easier on her family. Pre-planning the funeral and settling debts may seem bleak, but these may be important issues to your parent.
