Need Help

[GustavoW]

Hello everybody,

My name is Gustavo Woltmann, I come from Argentina and I currently live in London. I have a very nice neighbor that I see less and less because he has asthma. I wish I could do something for him to help him, but I'm a utophile. That's why I'm here. What can I do to help him ?

[M-D-F]

Hi, just reassure your neighbour that you are there, make he/she is taking the medication. At worst asthma only limits your activities, and your neighbour thinks he/she is burdening you.

[Hidden]

Hi what's a utophile please? x

[ElizabethC]

I am not sure what an utophile is unless you meant autophile who is someone who likes cars. Unless your neighbour likes those as well but is unable to go due to fumes etc, I can't see how it relates.

However, you can still help.

Talk to your neighbour and offer to be a contact in case of emergency. Ask if he can teach you what his triggers are and what you can do if he is unable to seek help himself due to an attack. Understand what his medications are and how to administer them. Know what to do if there is an emergency where he needs urgent medical care. Encourage him to have an formal plan in place on how to manage the asthma and to provide friends and family and work colleagues and indeed strangers, with the tools to help in an emergency. An ICE (In Case of Emergency) card in his wallet, on his person etc can be of great use as it can detail what his condition is, what medications he is taking and when to call emergency services.

Check out tips on Asthma UK for detailed info.

And be there for him. Don't let him isolate himself. If he is unable to do things due to the asthma, encourage him to go to his GP to check whether the meds he is on are suitable. Sometimes it can take time to find the best combination. Help him become an advocate for himself.

Spend time with him if he will let you. Offer to take him out to places and plan them to avoid his triggers. If he feels he can't walk very far - plan it so he doesn't have to.

Let him know he is not alone - direct him here and to Asthma UK.

Thank you for trying to learn what you can do to help your neighbour.