Our pulmonary rehabilitation program at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health is helping people across East Gippsland recover from respiratory illness and build the strength and confidence to stay well at home.
For Sarsfield resident Helen Pollard, the program came at just the right time.
Helen lives in the home she built with her late husband Denis, who passed away in May last year after 63 years of marriage. After being encouraged by her sister-in-law to try her first ever cruise, Helen returned home with a severe chest infection.
Following several weeks of recovery, Helen used her Support at Home package – a Federal Government subsidised program that helps older people continue living independently – to attend an eight-week rehabilitation program at our Lakes Entrance gym.
“Now that program is really good,” Helen said.
“I went and I was really nervous at first because I haven’t exercised madly for years.”
Our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program supports people living with chronic lung disease and other respiratory conditions to improve their breathing, strength and confidence.
The evidence-based program combines supervised exercise, education and support over eight weeks to help people manage symptoms and safely build fitness.
Rates of chronic lung disease are higher in East Gippsland than in metropolitan areas, driven by an ageing population and higher smoking rates.
GLCH Exercise Physiologist Nara Venkatesan said pulmonary rehabilitation plays an important role in helping people stay well and avoid hospital admissions.
“Pulmonary rehab helps people recover after respiratory illness, reduces breathlessness and improves day-to-day function,” Nara said.
“Just as importantly, it reduces the risk of people ending up back in hospital, which is especially important in regional areas where access to specialist care can be limited.”
For Helen, the program has helped rebuild her fitness and strength, and she says the support available through GLCH has made a real difference.
“I knew when I came home after Denis passed that my home was too big and I couldn’t be here without help,” Helen said.
“Yes, I have a wonderful daughter who looks after me, but she has a life of her own too and a family to raise. The help you get is very, very good.”
“I just hope more people will take the message. I’m in my middle-80s, and I think a lot of people are too stubborn to have help. It makes quite a difference to their life.”
To learn more about the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, or other support GLCH offers to help manage lung disease and breathlessness, call 5155 8370.