83-year-old Mona Strain sits at her kitchen table meticulously piecing together a 1,000 piece jigsaw. Warm, welcoming and extremely engaging, Mona has been living with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) for several years. A canister of oxygen sits propped up not far from the table, oxygen that Mona needs as a result of her condition when walking around her Ballykinler home.
There are currently between 40,000 – 50,000 people living with COPD in Northern Ireland, a debilitating condition that happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed. COPD is associated with long-term exposure to irritants and in the majority of cases, smoking is the cause. Occupational or environmental factors, such as dust or chemicals, can also cause the condition.
The theme for World COPD Day, which is acknowledged on Wednesday November 20 is, ‘Know Your Lung Function’. A smoker who has long since given up the habit, Mona explained how, “devastated” she was to learn of her COPD diagnosis.
“I was devastated and cross of what I had done to myself smoking for so many years,” said Mona. “I had a shortage of breath, it was very bad at times and I had regular chest infections and I was hospitalised with them. I was a smoker and that was the trouble. As soon as I was told it was COPD that was it. The day I was diagnosed I stopped smoking. I remember saying to my little granddaughter, “Granny’s not well and she can’t smoke anymore’. That was it.”
Mona described her condition as a, “such a cruel disease” and praised the support she and her family have received from the Trust led Respiratory Team. “The team are brilliant, I only have to lift the phone and the staff are out. If I hadn’t have had them I don’t know what I would have done. I feel confident that I have backup and that means a lot.”
A familiar face to her many patients including Mona, Respiratory Team Lead Nurse Holly Crooks explained how she and her team, “Care and support their patients on their COPD journey.”
“COPD is a very debilitating condition which progressively gets worse for patients. We aim to help and support our patients to live as independently as possible and also support their family and carers. From that first initial contact we develop long-term relationships with our patients building on a foundation of trust, respect and compassionate care,” said Holly. “We work very closely with the wider multidisciplinary team, optimising the care and support within the patient’s home environment such as GP, District Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Dietician, Palliative Care Team and the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association.”
Holly described how she feels very, “privileged” in her role, “as I am invited into patient’s, like Mona’s home, to provide care in their own home environment.”
“We care for our patients holistically, managing their respiratory symptoms but also seeing the person behind it, ensuring they feel valued and listened to.”
Holly continued: “Within the service we offer support and guidance with smoking cessation, onward referral to pulmonary rehabilitation programme, education with inhaler technique and we also provide domiciliary reviews when patients are unwell to help prevent hospital admission.
“We aim to help support our patients to live as independently as possible and also support their family and carers. From this we develop long-term relationships with our patients, building on a foundation of trust, respect and compassionate care.”