As the weather cools, many older adults with lung conditions start to feel the change. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, blocks airflow to the lungs and makes breathing harder. COPD has no cure, but daily care can help people feel better and stay active.

At Abundant Life Assisted Services, we support Georgia families caring for loved ones with chronic conditions like COPD.

COPD Facts

In 2023, 3.8 percent of adults in the United States had diagnosed COPD

COPD rates rise with age, reaching 8.9 percent of adults 65 to 74 and 10.5 percent of adults 75 and older

The South and the Midwest have the highest COPD rates in the country, at 4.2 percent each.

Tobacco smoke is the main cause of COPD in the United States

Common Symptoms

Frequent coughing or wheezing

Shortness of breath during everyday activities

Trouble taking a deep breath

Excess phlegm or mucus

Who Is at Higher Risk

Current and former smokers

People exposed to secondhand smoke or workplace fumes

People with a history of asthma

Adults 65 and older

People with a family history of COPD

Managing COPD at Home

Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke

Limit time outdoors when air quality is poor

Take medicines exactly as prescribed

Ask the doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation

Stay up to date on recommended vaccines

Use oxygen therapy as directed when prescribed

How Abundant Life Assisted Services Can Help

For Georgia families, we provide:

Medication reminders

Help with bathing, dressing, and daily tasks that can cause shortness of breath

Light housekeeping to reduce dust and irritants

Meal preparation

Companionship and emotional support

Updates to the family about changes in breathing or energy

Final Thoughts

COPD affects more older adults than many families realize. Watch for coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, and talk with a doctor if you notice changes.

If your loved one needs daily support while living with COPD, we are here to help.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
About COPD
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2023
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db529.htm