Patient self-management and quality of life through education. Education training topics for patient self-management at home may include but is not limited to…

• How to begin exercise with shortness of breath
• Breathing exercises to help control shortness of breath
• The respiratory system
• How your lungs work
• What is Chronic Lung Disease (COPD)?
• Understanding your lung disease
• Understanding your breathing medicines, using gadgets
• Keeping your air passages clear
• Simplifying your daily activities, conserving your energy
• Understanding your lung health tests
• Your nutrition & lung disease
• Your health risks, staying healthy: What can you do?
• Stress, panic breathing and coping….relaxation techniques
• Emotional challenges of living with chronic lung disease
• Intimacy and Chronic Lung Disease
• Building your home exercise & strength training plan
• Aging and Chronic Lung Disease
• Advanced Directives, 911 and EMS
• Your community resources for Chronic Lung Disease

Support for improved self-management and quality of life includes:

• Providing monthly/biweekly support groups meetings for Education, Peer and Healthcare Resource Support.
• Providing follow up after rehab for continued connection with Pulmonary Rehab as a healthcare resource to identify problem and aid in early interventions
• Providing access to local/community resources
• Providing an avenue for social connectiveness

Exercise training (strength, endurance, flexibility and balance) for improved self-management and quality of life includes:

• Providing Exercise training fundamentals that focus on strength and endurance equally with an approach that teaches and emphasizes tools to control dyspnea and fatigue.
• Approach is thoughtful and progressive, emphasiizing control using breathing techniques and pacing. Emphasis is on progressing to daily hoem exercise for life. Training includes pacing all exercise for dyspnea control and self-monitoring techniques for safety and independence at home.