Community outreach programs and strategies

Community Outreach

COPD and the Elderly Population

Although discussions about death and dying can be uncomfortable for patients, family members, and healthcare providers, the subject is important - especially for people with severe chronic illnesses (Covinsky, et al., 1994; Schiff, et al., 2000). The issue of a living will is particularly important for people with COPD, who are at risk for being placed on a ventilator (breathing machine) when they are very ill (Schiff, et al., 2000). As a home health nurse, it is easy to discover that many COPD patients do not have living wills and have not made final decisions and arrangements with their families. While it is natural to want to put off the inevitable decline and demise as long as possible, there is no substitute for making appropriate plans in order to determine what will take place in the future (Covinsky, et al., 1994). For purposes of this flyer, the target audience will be the elderly in the community who have COPD, along with the families of those individuals. The location was chosen because it is a good community area, and there is easy transportation available. Being able to easily get to the location is vital, because people with COPD may not be able to travel as well as others who are healthy. That is also true of elderly people in general, so it is very important to take them into consideration. The flyer will be distributed to the clients of the home health nurses in the area, and will also be placed in prominent businesses throughout the community. That will allow as many people as possible to see the flyer. From the focus group, the desire is to determine what the best intervention would be when it comes to getting COPD patients and their families to address end of life issues - specifically living wills. The attendees to the focus group will learn about end of life issues and have a better understanding of ways to communicate the issue to the COPD patient, so affairs can be in order.

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Make Your Choices Known

Who will make decisions for me if I cannot communicate?

Are there treatments that I do or do not want at the end of life?