The review of the care of breathless patients by Ekstrom, Abernethy and Currow was admirably informative. Having been a Physician for forty years and now a breathless patient I would strongly recommend that respiratory care teams advise the patients and their families about the great value of aids to daily living. Although the aids can seem costly they give enormous improvement to the quality of life.
The most frequently recognized is the installation of a stair chair lift. Equally valuable is a mobility scooter which can allow the patient to go shopping for essential purchases and also give the patient an opportunity to see what life is like outside the home, real experience which is so much better than television. Independent mobility also allows patients to go out to meet their personal friends. Generally buses and taxis are obliged to accept mobility scooters. Western countries have generally passed legislation requiring public places to provide wheel chair access. Sadly train companies and underground train services lag behind installing access adaptions and they need pressure from the Medical Professions.
Rapid Response:
The review of the care of breathless patients by Ekstrom, Abernethy and Currow was admirably informative. Having been a Physician for forty years and now a breathless patient I would strongly recommend that respiratory care teams advise the patients and their families about the great value of aids to daily living. Although the aids can seem costly they give enormous improvement to the quality of life.
The most frequently recognized is the installation of a stair chair lift. Equally valuable is a mobility scooter which can allow the patient to go shopping for essential purchases and also give the patient an opportunity to see what life is like outside the home, real experience which is so much better than television. Independent mobility also allows patients to go out to meet their personal friends. Generally buses and taxis are obliged to accept mobility scooters. Western countries have generally passed legislation requiring public places to provide wheel chair access. Sadly train companies and underground train services lag behind installing access adaptions and they need pressure from the Medical Professions.
Competing interests: No competing interests