Brovana 15mcg (arfermoterol tartrate) Inhalation Solution

Caregiving Tips

One of the most important things you can do as a caregiver is to learn all you can about the treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You may be the one giving the medication to the patient, so you need to be sure that the drug is taken properly. Click here to read about the different therapies for COPD. You should also find out what treatment options are covered by the patient's healthcare plan. Here are a few tips to help you in your caregiver role:

Set up a patient file to hold all appointment cards, prescription labels, and printed information from the pharmacy, records of all recent doctor or dental visits, and test results.

Set up a calendar in a prominent place and record all visits and phone calls with doctors

List all medications and note changes in dosage or prescription on the proper dates.
Attach a medical emergency list that includes these phone numbers:

• Doctors
• Local hospital and ambulance service
• Job (if applicable)
• Healthcare plan
• Friends
• Home healthcare workers

Make sure the patient's general health and hygiene are tended to

• Help plan haircuts, dental visits, and eye exams

Make sure the patient's environment is properly ventilated and is free of smoke¹

• Secondhand smoke may contribute to respiratory symptoms of COPD
• If the patient smokes, discuss beginning a smoking-cessation program with both the patient and a doctor

Learn what the patient's interests are and try to provide some of these activities

Try to arrange for visitors to stop by. This will provide a break for both you and the patient.