Living with COPD doesn’t mean you can’t age with grace

They say aging well after 70 can be measured in small victories, such as standing from a low chair without using your hands, remembering appointments without a calendar, or lifting a laundry basket without strain. I smiled as I recently read an article about 10 such signs, because I’m almost 82, have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and can do all of them. But one in particular made me pause: remembering appointments.

I’ve never depended on memory for that. Long ago, I decided that my brainpower was better spent elsewhere, such as learning, teaching, writing, engaging in advocacy work, and exploring the creative tangents that give life meaning. Why waste energy on dates and times when a calendar can do the remembering for me? For me, resilience has always been about choosing where to spend my energy, not proving I can do it all, though I did check to see if I could.

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Being on oxygen allows for freedom

I depend on supplemental oxygen 24/7. The hum of my concentrator is the soundtrack of my days, a steady whisper reminding me that breath is precious but possible. The tubing trails behind me like a faithful ribbon, winding through rooms, catching the light and everything else it comes close to. That last characteristic causes me to utter some not-so-nice words.

Some might see it as a limitation, but I see it as a tool of freedom. Oxygen allows me to keep moving, writing, and connecting. It is a lifeline that makes possible the very signs of strength others might be surprised to find in someone my age.

Yes, I can stand from a low seat, turn to back up a car, and follow a recipe without losing my place. I can walk across uneven ground, feeling the crunch of gravel underfoot and the subtle sway of balance that comes with age. But my most significant sign of aging well isn’t on that list I mentioned above. It’s an adaptation.

Adaptation involves creating trackers to monitor my routines, reshaping exercise to honor muscle memory, and rediscovering movement through my retooled exercise plan. It’s about reframing illness as a source of meaning rather than just a challenge. These are the quiet victories that don’t make headlines but sustain independence and dignity.

With COPD, attitude is so essential. A chronic illness causes one to reassess priorities and even the mindset. At first, I cursed the oxygen tubing because it was constantly getting tangled, which slowed me down. One day, however, I realized it was my lifeline. It was the reason I could move in the first place.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.