Aids that can help with COPD

COPD can make everyday jobs, like washing, dressing and tidying up, feel exhausting. The right aids can ease breathlessness, help you clear mucus from your chest and save your energy for the things that matter to you.

This article starts with the help you can get free, so you do not pay for something the NHS or your council already provides.

Help you can get free

From your NHS respiratory team

Ask your GP, practice nurse or respiratory team about:

• pulmonary rehabilitation, a free exercise and education course that is one of the best treatments for breathlessness. Read more in COPD treatment
• a COPD self-management plan, so you know what to do when your symptoms change
• airway clearance devices and breathing techniques, taught by a respiratory physiotherapist
• oxygen, if tests show you need it. Oxygen is only prescribed after an assessment

From your council

Your local council can arrange a free needs assessment, often with an occupational therapist. They can suggest and provide equipment such as shower seats, perching stools and grab rails. Equipment for daily living that costs under £1,000 should be free if the council says you need it. For bigger changes to your home, you may get a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Aids you might choose to buy

Where we suggest a product, it is clearly marked Ad. Please check that anything you buy suits your needs, and ask your respiratory team or an occupational therapist if you are not sure.

A handheld fan for breathlessness

Asthma and Lung UK and many respiratory teams suggest a handheld fan. Hold it about 15cm (6 inches) from the middle of your face and let the cool air blow towards you. It can take up to 10 minutes to feel the benefit. It works alongside your breathing techniques, not instead of them.

A rechargeable fan you can carry in a bag or pocket means you always have one with you.

Airway clearance devices

If you cough up a lot of mucus, an airway clearance device may make it easier to clear. These are often called OPEP devices (oscillating positive expiratory pressure). You breathe out through the device, which creates vibrations and pressure that help loosen mucus. Well known examples include the Aerobika, Acapella and Flutter.

Talk to your respiratory team before using one. They are not right for everyone, and a physiotherapist can check it suits you, show you how to use it and may be able to provide one on the NHS.

Shower seats and bath stools

Standing in a warm, steamy shower can make you breathless. Sitting down to wash saves a lot of energy. It also helps to keep the bathroom door open or run the extractor fan, and to use a towelling robe rather than drying yourself with a towel.

Check the size of your shower or bath, and the most weight the seat can hold, before you buy. Your council's occupational therapist can advise you, and may provide a seat free.

Perching stools

A perching stool is a tall seat with a sloping top that lets you half sit, half stand. It is useful for jobs you would normally stand for, such as preparing food, washing up, shaving or doing your hair, so you use less energy and get less breathless.

Grabbers and reachers

Bending down and reaching up can make you breathless. A grabber (also called a reacher) lets you pick things up from the floor or reach high shelves without stretching or bending.

Pulse oximeters

A pulse oximeter clips onto your finger and measures the oxygen level in your blood. Some people with COPD are asked to check their levels at home.

• only use one if your GP or respiratory team has asked you to, and told you what your normal reading is and what to do if it drops
• readings can be less accurate on darker skin, and with cold hands or nail varnish
• always go by how you feel, not just the number. If you feel very unwell, get help even if the reading looks normal

Other everyday tips

• Pace yourself. Spread jobs across the day and week, and rest before you get too tired. Read living well with COPD
• Keep things within reach. Store things you use often between waist and shoulder height
• Keep warm. Cold air can make breathlessness worse. Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth in cold weather
• Use a trolley to carry things around the house, rather than carrying them

Help with costs

• Prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales. In England, a prescription prepayment certificate can save money if you need several items. Check with our NHS health costs check.
• If COPD affects your daily life, you may be able to get PIP, or Attendance Allowance if you are over State Pension age. Read COPD, work and benefits.
• VAT relief may apply to equipment designed for disabled people, including some bathing and mobility aids. See VAT relief on disability equipment.