After moving to another town or state, you may take some time to get to know your neighbors. Or when you start a new job, you might look for people who share your interests or hobbies.
But when you’re diagnosed with chronic lung disease, you may think it’s more difficult to connect with individuals who share your health experiences.
When there’s a change in your life, it's natural to want to meet other people who are sharing that experience. At Chester County Hospital, there are
multiple support groups for people to learn about their diagnosis or health condition — while also meeting other people with the same experiences.
At Chester County Hospital, one way to meet other people in your community living with chronic lung disease is through The Better Breathers Support Group.
Meet The Better Breathers Support Group at Chester County Hospital
If you have a health condition like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you may find yourself looking for information about treatment or managing your symptoms.
You might google "COPD symptoms" or look for Facebook groups with other people who have chronic lung disease. This can be a good way to understand your diagnosis, but it can also leave you wanting deeper connections with people who know exactly what you’re going through.
One way to meet those people is through the The Better Breathers Support Group. Meeting virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, this free group brings together individuals living with chronic lung disease to share their experiences and learn from informational presentations explained by healthcare experts.
"This is a free support group for people who have chronic lung disease — as well as their caregivers or their loved ones," shares Martha Jones, RRT, a Respiratory Therapist at CCH and the coordinator of the The Better Breathers Support Group.
As a respiratory therapist for over 25 years, Martha has led similar groups at other hospitals before joining the Chester County team this past year. She is excited to kick off the The Better Breathers Support Group and begin hosting virtual meetings.
Get a Better Understanding of Your Chronic Lung Disease
Created to help participants understand their chronic lung disease, the The Better Breathers Support Group brings different speakers and educational presentations to each meeting. Speakers can include doctors, respiratory therapists, nurses, and even pharmacists to talk about the different aspects of living with and managing your chronic lung disease.
These presentations can be about:
-
What’s physically happening to your lungs when you have chronic lung disease
- Breathing techniques to help you in your everyday life
- How to take your medications correctly
- Disaster preparedness and what to do in case of an emergency
- Health habits that might be bad for your lungs
- Techniques to conserve energy
While there are some speakers that Martha may choose each month, she wants participants to know that this is their support group, and it should cover the topics that they are interested in.
"During the first few meetings, I will be taking time to figure out what the participants want to do with this support group — because it really is their support group," Martha explains. "I want to meet with them and find out if they're looking for education or speakers and really identify what kinds of things they want to discuss. I think it's helpful for folks to know that there's nothing set in stone. They have ownership over the direction we go."
Meet Your People at Better Breathers
If you’re not sure if The Better Breathers Support Group is right for you, you're not alone in your hesitation. Martha shares that many people have a certain idea about what a support group is from movies and TV — and it's not exactly accurate.
"It’s not only about sharing emotions or what you’re going through," Martha says. "It's more about the education and support you get by connecting with others going through the same thing as you — and you don't have to open up about what you’re going through if you don't want to."
Martha encourages everyone who attends to be open-minded, but also to participate in a way that makes them feel comfortable.
For some, that might be really focusing on what they can learn from the speakers. For others, they may want to share the challenges they’re facing. Others may want to listen. Sometimes just hearing what other participants are going through can help you better understand your own experiences.
Join The Better Breathers Support Group
In the Better Breathers Support Group, you can find everything from education to community and support — not only from the invited medical professionals but also from your peers.
"If you’re on the fence about attending a meeting, just give it a try," Martha says. "Even if you're not sure what you're going to get out of it, be open, and just see how it goes."
The Better Breathers Support Group won’t just help you breathe better, but live better.
The Better Breathers Support Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 PM. Register online for an upcoming session or call 610-738-2300 to attend.