Creating COPD-Friendly Gatherings

This year, I set to embark on my first major holiday season without my mom. Her battle with COPD did limit her ability to socialize, and holidays were hard for her and I am sure are hard for anyone who has a loved one who lives with COPD.

You are unsure if you should invite them, fearing they get sick at your party. You might end up trying to appease those who don't want to dampen their festivities, but can it be a time for all to enjoy? Yes, it truly can be.

COPD-friendly hosting tips

You can make everyone happy by creating a guest list while stating simple COPD-friendly ground rules. As the host, you set the pace and expectations for all those who enter. If you put on the invite "BYOB," people know that in order to drink and be extra merry, they will have to bring the bubbly of their choice.

Choose to have one-on-one conversations with people who will be attending instead of group texts. Start the dialogue to include the positive impact of making these adjustments on your entire family.

After many years of not having these important conversations, when it came time for my mom to be bedridden, it was too late. Start including your loved one and establishing the importance of talking to your loved ones with COPD, and start a dialogue about what would be helpful to make their attendance more enjoyable.

One of the major reasons my mom did not attend many gatherings is not just because she found her COPD made it hard to be mobile and enjoy getting out of the house, but she didn't want to be a burden to the rest of the family or her friends.

Making gatherings comfortable and enjoyable

It would be thoughtful to help your loved one with COPD start the conversation by stating how the gathering will be COPD-friendly:

Seating: Create a set spot for your loved one to be close to the bathroom if mobility is an issue, and if portable oxygen is in use, it is far away from heat and cooking sources. If plug-in oxygen concentrators are in use, plan to have the loved one seated by an electrical outlet and prepare to move them to other family seating areas where an outlet is within reach.

Limiting fragrances:
Limiting or prohibiting strong fragrances. Many people like to wear lotions and perfumes on special occasions. This can impact the overall enjoyment of not just your COPD guests but those sensitive to fragrances because of allergies or migraines.

Try focusing on the other scents of the season that have less olfactory offensives, like yummy food and beverages, instead of cinnamon, evergreen, and potpourri. The loved one with COPD does not have to be on oxygen to have scents overwhelm the airways. But should your loved one use oxygen, limiting exposure or forgoing the fireplaces and candles would make breathing easier for everyone.

Germ reduction in a post-COVID world:

Encourage everyone to wash their hands upon entering the home, have hand sanitizers at each table, and one-time-use paper towels for everyone to use at the sinks and in the bathroom.

Creating lasting memories

The most important thing is to create memories and space for your loved one with COPD. You want them to feel celebrated amongst all the other guests. There will come a time in every group of family, biological or chosen, that people will no longer be able to attend gatherings.

Make a difference for your loved ones with COPD while you still have the opportunity.