Ascend Health offers comprehensive COPD palliative care and hospice services designed to meet patients’ needs at different stages of their journey. Our expert team provides specialized nursing care for COPD patients and their families, focusing on symptom management, comfort, and quality of life through compassionate COPD end-of-life care when you need it most.
Ascend Health’s COPD Program provides specialized nursing care for COPD patients designed to enhance comfort and quality of life. Our approach to nursing care for COPD focuses on individualized treatment plans to manage distressing COPD symptoms, including:
Our Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) also help with everyday responsibilities that become challenging for COPD patients:
Ascend Health’s COPD palliative care services are available during any stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, not just at the end of life. Unlike hospice, COPD palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments and disease-modifying therapies.
Starting palliative care earlier in the COPD journey can:
End-stage COPD (sometimes called “stage 4” or “very severe” COPD) is the most advanced phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. At this stage, lung function is severely compromised, typically with a forced expiratory volume (FEV1) less than 30% of normal. Patients experience persistent symptoms despite optimal medical therapy, including severe breathlessness even at rest, frequent exacerbations, respiratory failure, and significant limitations in daily activities. Oxygen dependency is common, and quality of life is substantially reduced. End-stage COPD patients benefit from specialized hospice care focused on comfort and symptom management rather than curative treatment.
Life expectancy with COPD varies significantly depending on several factors, including disease severity, age of diagnosis, smoking status, and presence of other health conditions. While early-stage COPD may have minimal impact on lifespan, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease typically carries a prognosis of less than two years. However, some patients may live longer with appropriate management.
Factors affecting COPD lifespan include:
While COPD is not currently curable or reversible, progression can be slowed and symptoms can be effectively managed. The lung damage in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is permanent; however, proper treatment can:
For those with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hospice care focuses on maximizing comfort and quality of life rather than reversing the condition. Smoking cessation remains the most important step to prevent further lung damage, even in advanced stages.
COPD palliative care offers specialized support for patients at any stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, not just at the end of life. Unlike hospice, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments and disease-modifying therapies. For COPD patients, Ascend Health’s palliative care provides:
COPD palliative care can begin at any stage of the disease and has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, improve symptom control, and enhance overall well-being for patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Hospice provides specialized care for COPD patients focusing on comfort and quality of life when curative treatments are no longer effective. For patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Ascend’s hospice services include:
Hospice teams work to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, allowing COPD hospice patients to remain comfortable at home or in their chosen care setting.
Ascend Health’s specialized COPD Program offers both palliative care and hospice services, providing expert nursing care for COPD patients at any stage of their journey. Our comprehensive approach ensures patients receive the highest quality care tailored to their current needs and disease progression.
When you choose Ascend Health for COPD care, you gain:
Living with COPD at any stage is challenging, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Ascend Health’s COPD Hospice and Palliative Care Program provides specialized nursing care for COPD and compassionate support that makes a meaningful difference for patients and families, whether you need COPD palliative care during earlier stages or hospice care for end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Contact us or call 866.821.1212 today to learn how our COPD hospice and palliative care services can help your loved one experience comfort, dignity, and quality of life throughout their COPD journey.