For people with COPD, indoor air quality is a vital issue. Your elderly family member may run into problems with some of these indoor irritants, so it’s important to know how to handle them.

Pollen and Outdoor Allergens

Certain times of year, usually spring and fall, are worse than other times of the year for problems with outdoor allergens like pollen. Keeping those allergens outside can be key in helping your senior to avoid developing breathing difficulties. This means keeping windows closed and maybe even making sure you brush pollen off you when you’ve been outside for a while. That last step can be helpful if your senior is highly allergic to certain pollens.

Dust and Dust Mites

If your elderly family member is allergic to dust mites, that can be a potential trigger for her, too. More problematic overall can be the dust that they like to live in. Dusting regularly and making sure that you’re actually removing the dust rather than spreading it around can be helpful. HEPA filters and air purifiers with several stages of filtration can also help.

Fragrances, Chemicals, and Sprays

Smells, especially chemicals that are sprayed in the air in a fine mist, can be incredibly problematic for someone with COPD. This is usually a bigger problem with cleaning chemicals and air fresheners, but anything with a fragrance can be difficult to breathe through. Even using natural cleaning products, especially strongly scented ones like those using vinegar, can be difficult. Make sure you use proper ventilation or clean when your senior is out.

Pet Dander and Fur

Pets are wonderful companions, but they usually have fur and dander that they shed. Keeping this under control with frequent dusting and vacuuming can be hugely helpful for a senior who has COPD. Regular grooming visits or at least daily brushing can also help to control the amount of fur that gets spread around the house.

Humidity Levels

When the humidity levels in your senior’s home are higher, the air contains more water. Even a small rise in humidity levels can be more difficult for your senior to breathe easily. Using a dehumidifier or at least running the air conditioner a little more frequently can help to bring those levels down a bit.

It takes a lot of energy to keep up with all of these issues on a regular basis. Maybe even more energy than your senior can afford to expend. One of the best answers is to bring in home care providers to take care of these tasks for your senior.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring  Home Care in Spartanburg, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas. 

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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