Recovering from pneumonia can take time. Was she sent home or prescribed a nebulizer for respiratory treatments? This can help clear the airways and assist her to cough up the phlegm. If no nebulizer, was she prescribed any inhalers to use to help her breath? Administer these per MD orders.
Try an OTC med like Mucinex which works to loosen the secretions. Hydration for her is very important too- not only will it help her lung secretions loosen but prevent UTI’s amongst other things like helping to prevent constipation.
Try to sit her up to cough. Maybe use a pillow to support chest or abdomen when she coughs for comfort. (Like post op CABG pts use to protect their incision when they cough). Ask her PCP to teach you how to do respiratory physiotherapy by “cupping”. This done gently can have great results to loosen up the secretions so they may be expelled.
Keep her moving as much as possible - walk to the bathroom (with support), etc. Movement helps move up the secretions so she can cough them out.
You can purchase a pulse oximeter at a pharmacy. This is the device the hospital staff uses on someone’s fingertip that provides a measurement for Oxygen saturation rate which should be between 91-100% (ideally > 95%). If the sats are low, Mother may need home oxygen.
Try an OTC med like Mucinex which works to loosen the secretions. Hydration for her is very important too- not only will it help her lung secretions loosen but prevent UTI’s amongst other things like helping to prevent constipation.
Try to sit her up to cough. Maybe use a pillow to support chest or abdomen when she coughs for comfort. (Like post op CABG pts use to protect their incision when they cough). Ask her PCP to teach you how to do respiratory physiotherapy by “cupping”. This done gently can have great results to loosen up the secretions so they may be expelled.
Keep her moving as much as possible - walk to the bathroom (with support), etc. Movement helps move up the secretions so she can cough them out.
You can purchase a pulse oximeter at a pharmacy. This is the device the hospital staff uses on someone’s fingertip that provides a measurement for Oxygen saturation rate which should be between 91-100% (ideally > 95%). If the sats are low, Mother may need home oxygen.
Good luck and I hope she improves more every day.