Linda has been living with both asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for about four years. Linda came to Respiratory Care WA, formerly Asthma WA, following her discharge from hospital in 2021. She was determined to quit smoking following severe asthma attacks and was looking for help.
At 72 years old she was living independently but had recently lost her husband and was the primary caregiver for her mother, who has dementia. Anxiety played a significant part in her daily life and as a result she’s become scared to travel and has to take her reliever everywhere she goes.
“It gets me so scared that I think I’m going to die when I have an asthma flare-up” she says.
Linda’s health educator at Respiratory Care WA, Jacqueline Rapaic, provided Linda with support and resources to help manage her COPD so she could live a better quality of life.
Over the years the two have developed a great relationship and Jacqui has taught Linda breathing techniques, proper medication device usage, and other strategies to cope with her condition and her anxiety. Despite her complex medical history, Linda actively participated in Pulmonary Rehabilitation and found solace in oil painting.
Linda’s health journey has been marked by the challenge of smoking addiction. When we met Linda, she was smoking between 2 to 20 cigarettes a day. As a result of her ongoing check ins with Jacqui, Linda has now been smoke-free since October 2023.
“Respiratory Care WA has helped me improve her quality of life and live a healthier life.”
