To kickoff Pulmonary Fibrosis Consciousness Month, the American Lung Affiliation launched a brand new academic program that features lung well being navigators to assist PF sufferers and households.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Pulmonary Fibrosis schooling and assist expanded, because the American Lung Affiliation launched the Studying to Stay with PF program to supply sufferers and households with assets throughout Consciousness Month.
- Lung Well being Navigators provide personalised steering, connecting sufferers with nurses and respiratory specialists by way of cellphone, on-line chat, or Zoom to supply ongoing schooling and assist.
- Sufferers achieve entry to a nationwide assist community, together with a structured workbook, caregiver connections, and group updates on analysis and scientific trials—all free by this system.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a type of interstitial lung illness that causes scarring within the lungs, making it more and more troublesome to breathe. There are greater than 200 kinds of PF, and whereas some instances are linked to genetics, drugs, autoimmune situations, or environmental exposures, the most typical type—idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis—has no recognized trigger. At present, there isn’t any treatment, however remedies can be found to sluggish illness development and relieve signs.
“Pulmonary fibrosis is a life-altering analysis that impacts not solely respiration, however each facet of an individual’s life, so managing this illness will be overwhelming,” stated Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Affiliation. “By our new ‘Studying to Stay with PF’ program, we intention to supply people with the instruments they should higher perceive their illness, work with their healthcare suppliers, and entry the newest therapy choices. Training and assist are key to residing effectively with pulmonary fibrosis, and we’re proud to broaden on these essential assets by this marketing campaign.”
This system, which is supported by the Feldman Household Basis, gives free, personalised assist expertise that features:
- Lung Well being Navigators: Navigators are registered nurses, respiratory therapists and licensed tobacco therapy specialists who provide free, prolonged assist to assist folks all through their journey with PF. Lung Well being Navigators join by a structured curriculum to supply personalised assist, steering and assets. Folks can meet with the Lung Well being Navigator over the cellphone, dwell on-line chat or Zoom when it really works greatest for his or her schedule.
- Studying to Stay with Pulmonary Fibrosis Workbook: A complete information mailed to contributors that covers key subjects corresponding to illness fundamentals, medical administration, constructing a healthcare group, vitamin, bodily exercise and dealing with the emotional affect of PF. Lung Well being Navigators use the workbook to construction ongoing assist periods.
- Affected person and Caregiver Community: A nationwide group that connects people with PF and their caregivers to academic instruments, peer assist, and updates on rising analysis and scientific trials.
“When our dad, Irv Feldman, was recognized with pulmonary fibrosis in 2006, there have been few assets accessible to information us by the challenges forward. After his passing in 2013, it turned our household’s mission to make sure that others dealing with this illness wouldn’t should navigate it alone. In the present day, in partnership with the
American Lung Affiliation and in honor of Irv, the Feldman Household Basis is honored to assist the Lung Well being Navigator program, a significant useful resource for sufferers, households, and caregivers affected by pulmonary fibrosis,” stated Mitchell Feldman, President of the Feldman Household Basis.
Entry for PF Sufferers
Anybody residing with PF or caring for somebody with the illness is inspired to enroll on this free program by visiting Lung.org/navigator or calling the American Lung Affiliation at 866-252-2959.
