What is in your COPD Caregiving Backpack?

Benjamin Franklin has been quoted as saying, "By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail."

If you keep this advice in mind as a COPD caregiver, you’ll start to see how important it is to look ahead and plan for your loved one’s needs.

Going to the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment, or even taking a road trip might seem difficult for some people with COPD. Still, these outings can be a great way to socialize and get a change of scenery.

Choosing the right bag

First on the list is selecting a versatile bag to carry the items.

You can purchase a small backpack, pick up one at Goodwill, Walmart, or Amazon, for under $20. By utilizing a multi-pocket backpack, you can store items for ease of access and distribute the extra weight evenly on your back. I have come to rely on having hands-free access so I can provide care to my loved one, which a backpack affords.

Beyond the items in the backpack that will be transported with you and your cared for, it is wise to have a backup supply of wipes, oxygen canulas, briefs, and a change of clothing in the trunk of the car.

Packing the COPD essentials

COPD essentials can be divided into two categories: Comfort and Emergencies.

Comfort:

• Rescue Inhalers
• Hygiene products for hand sanitizing
• Wipes to cool your face, neck, and privates during bathroom breaks
• A handheld fan
• Layered clothing to cover up when chilly, or remove when higher temperatures prevail
• A change of clothing to include undergarments, briefs
• Items to keep your loved one occupied, like a book or a crossword puzzle
• Healthy snacks and water

Emergencies:

• Back up Batteries for your Pulse Oximeter and Portable Oxygen Concentrator
• Your Insurance Cards
• Medication List
• Medications
• A small first aid kit
• Spare nasal canulas

Pre-outing prep

Some other helpful tips for navigating being out and about with your loved one with COPD:

Medication lists need to be updated as needed, along with the doctor’s address and contact information. When you are in the middle of caring for a fall, or any medical concern that needs to call for an ambulance, your focus as a caregiver will be matched with the degree of emergency at hand. If you have the list ready and updated, it will help the EMTs and hospital staff take over when they get on scene.

Make sure you charge your backup Portable Oxygen Concentrator battery to full capacity as well as your on-unit battery.

You may find yourself out running errands with the person you are caring for, and need a nail clipper, a nail file, a Sharpie marker, or something else you do not have handy. It is bound to happen. The inside trick is to focus on addressing any urgent needs, remain calm, and offer assurance that the need will be taken care of once you arrive at their home.

A hangnail may be a great concern at that moment for your loved one. The panic that may arise may be due to another unmet need, such as being short of breath, needing to use the bathroom, being hungry, or being tired.

Lastly, make sure to pack extra patience and gratitude. Patience when things are delayed, gratitude that your loved one and you as the caregiver are alright.

Why every outing is worth the effort

In the grand scheme of things, outings are stressful when you have COPD. More often than not, being outside, getting to see the world, and celebrating the ability to be mobile- even with assistance- is life-affirming! COPD seeks to take away joy, mobility, comfort, and the very breath you are fighting for. By anticipating your Loved one's needs and being flexible in your approach to care, going out into the world can be done with ease.

So to anyone caring for a patient and/or loved one with COPD: please try to be gentle with them. Even small moments of compassion stay with people who experience it and witness the exchange. One day, all of us will become vulnerable too. Life has a way of returning what we give. Sometimes the greatest thing we can offer another human being in their final chapter, or advancing of a chronic condition, is simply making them feel loved, safe, and not alone.