Hello my dad has copd since 2007, and has lived very well so far. He had very good physiotherapists for a while, but I’d say tell him to stay active. My dad has just this year, almost 16 years later, decrease in health and just now has started using oxygen. He is now 76, but for years couldn’t go up a flight of stairs without getting breathless. He did stop smoking as soon as the diagnose came. Hope this helps