Murfreesboro’s Leading COPD Exacerbation Rehabilitation & Therapy Center

If you have a family member or loved one who has been diagnosed with COPD and has experienced an exacerbation of his or her COPD symptoms, then you are no doubt familiar with the fear and worry that is associated with such a circumstance. You may be concerned about his or her well-being or wonder if you are doing all that you can to help this individual, and you may be unsure as to what you can do to prevent your loved one’s health from getting worse. As someone who is committed to helping this important person in your life, there some steps that can be taken to alleviate these apprehensions. Please consider the following:

• Learn about COPD and familiarize yourself with COPD exacerbation symptoms.
• Talk with your loved one about how he or she is feeling. It is also a good idea to establish some kind of safety plan with your loved one should he or she need immediate help.
• Give yourself an education about the options for care available to those who are grappling with COPD exacerbation.
• Speak with your loved one about treatment options and advise him or her to select a program that looks good to him or her.
• If your loved one has received previous COPD exacerbation treatment, it is wise to encourage him or her to adhere to any physician recommendations given. Such recommendations can include avoiding smoking and refraining from exposure to illnesses of the lungs to the best of one’s ability.
• As someone who cares about a loved one who is suffering from COPD exacerbation, it is crucial that you also take care of yourself. If you do not practice good self-care and neglect your own needs, you may not be able to effectively help your loved one in the most beneficial way possible.

Finally, it is important that you convey your intentions of support for your loved one. He or she may be hesitant to rely on others for assistance, so by telling the individual you care about that you will be there for him or her, your loved one may be more inclined to follow through with and keep up with any treatment recommendations provided.

COPD exacerbation can adversely impact the life of the individual suffering from this affliction. When a person does not seek treatment or if a person does not adhere to ongoing treatment recommendations after receiving care for a severe episode of COPD exacerbation, the overall quality of a person’s life can deteriorate rapidly and lead to a variety of additional concerns that can be lasting. Many individuals who suffer from COPD exacerbation develop additional medical concerns and place themselves at risk for experiencing cardiac concerns and other lung-related issues. Additionally, certain mental health disorders, namely anxiety and depression, can emerge if care is not sought and adhered to. Furthermore, the longer an individual grapples with COPD exacerbation symptoms, the greater the need becomes for breathing assistance on a more permanent basis. For the above reasons, and more, it is beneficial to seek treatment for COPD exacerbation and to fully participate in the options for care available at a reputable treatment program.

During the streamlined admissions process, the need for rehabilitative services will be assessed. If this type of care is required, the staff at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital will then determine which of the below listed treatment methods should be included into the patient’s treatment plan so that the most favorable treatment outcomes result:

Physical therapy: So as to help patients heal when they are struggling with medical conditions that limit their movement, flexibility, and overall quality of life, Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital is pleased to offer physical therapy within its physical medicine and rehabilitation unit. For example, if a man or woman is grappling with COPD exacerbation or another type of medical concern, he or she will be able to meet with a physical therapist and learn new ways of becoming more independent and active in his or her daily life. This unique facet of care also offers patients access to orthotics, prosthetics, and wheelchair consultations with staff.

Occupational therapy: Because medical conditions like COPD exacerbation can hinder an individual’s ability to carry out daily activities, occupational therapy is available at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital so that patients can recuperate and resume healthy physical functioning in a more independent manner. Within Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s occupational therapy services, men and women can also benefit from ultrasounds, electronic stimulation, and kinesio taping, when necessary.

Speech therapy: When a medical condition impacts a person’s ability to communicate effectively, speech therapy may be incorporated into his or her treatment plan. Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s staff of expertly trained speech therapists is also able to administer vital stimulation and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations in order to determine if a patient’s ability to swallow is impacting his or her communication skills and overall health.   

Respiratory therapy: Numerous medical concerns can emerge when a person is unable to breathe properly. For this reason, Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s physical medicine and rehabilitation unit is equipped to treat those who require respiratory therapy, including trach management and decannulation, Trilogy, oxygen (O2) weaning, and CPAP and BiPAP management services. When COPD exacerbation is identified during the admissions process, the need for respiratory therapy will be determined and can be implemented into a patient’s care when it is required.

Medication management: When an individual is admitted to Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s physical medicine and rehabilitation unit to receive care for COPD exacerbation, he or she will be seen by a physical rehabilitation doctor three to five days per week. When necessary, a specialty physician can meet with the patient to care for psychiatry, nephrology, cardiology, urology, podiatry, and/or neuropsychology needs as well. Additionally, Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s dedicated nursing staff is available to assist individuals 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. When meeting with nurses, patients can learn about their medication regimens, become educated on how to best handle their care when not at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital, and become more familiar with diabetic care, DVT prophylaxis, and bowel/bladder training when needed.

Individual therapy: Conducted on an individual basis with either a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist, individual therapy sessions occur at least three hours per day, five days per week. These sessions can serve as a time in which the patient’s safety is assessed or when the needs of the individual require help from a professional from another discipline. Individuals working to recover from COPD exacerbation are also able to meet with an assigned social worker who can assess the need for and establish support, transition planning, and follow-up care that meets the patient’s needs.

Family education and training: In order to help those closest to Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital patients, family support services are available to provide family members and other loved ones with the information, resources, and support they need to be of best assistance to the individual they care about once he or she is discharged from Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital. Scheduled on an as needed basis, these meetings, which occur with Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital staff, are invaluable to family members and loved ones as they can help them learn how to properly aid someone while healing from COPD exacerbation. Lastly, when it is necessary, family members and loved ones can meet with a social worker for family meetings as well.

Experiential therapy: While working to recuperate from COPD exacerbation, a patient may benefit from certain experiential therapies if they will be of benefit during the healing and recovery process. The following types of experiential therapies are offered at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital and can be included in a patient’s treatment plan when appropriate:

• Outside physical activity
• Role playing
• Aroma therapy
• Music therapy

Throughout a patient’s time at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital, methods of care can be added or removed from an individual’s treatment plan so that they are able to receive only the most effective types of treatment that will elicit the most favorable outcomes upon discharge.

Additionally, each person who partakes in Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital’s care will receive a thorough discharge plan that actually begins during the admissions process. The previous level of functioning of each person is reviewed upon admission to this hospital, and the compassionate staff work diligently to identify the resources that will help patients once they have completed treatment at Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital.

If you or an important person in your life is suffering from COPD exacerbation or another medical concern that may warrant the high quality rehabilitative services that only Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, can provide, do not hesitate to contact our helpful intake team today. Let us help you or a loved one reap the benefits of having been treated in the most beneficial and transformative way possible. Murfreesboro Rehabilitation Hospital can help.