As we age, our respiratory system can become less efficient, leading to a range of problems, including shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue. Oxygen therapy is a common treatment for seniors with respiratory problems, helping to increase oxygen levels in the body and improve breathing. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of oxygen therapy for seniors, and provide tips for undergoing oxygen therapy.
What is Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves delivering oxygen to the body through a variety of means, including masks, nasal cannulas, and oxygen concentrators. The therapy is used to increase oxygen levels in the body, helping to improve breathing and reduce the symptoms of respiratory problems.
For starters, undergoing oxygen therapy may be prescribed for patients diagnosed with hypoxaemia or respiratory ailments such as COPD or asthma. Your doctor may test your suitability for oxygen therapy through certain methods like a pulse oximeter or the arterial blood gas test, where blood samples are taken from the wrist and tested for oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. For testing via pulse oximeter, oxygen therapy may be recommended if the readout is under 55mmHg and the oxygen saturation in your blood’s haemoglobin is under 90 per cent.
Oxygen Therapy and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic may have underlined a need for oxygen therapy as an even more important treatment for seniors as the virus can cause severe respiratory problems, leading to low oxygen levels in the body. At the height of the emergency, the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce stated that non-invasive ventilation can work for hypoxaemic patients hit with the virus but recommended patients wearing high-flow nasal cannulas instead of mechanical ventilation if the oxygen saturation could not progress above 92 per cent.
Benefits of Oxygen Therapy for Seniors
Improved breathing and energy
Oxygen therapy can help to increase oxygen levels in the body, improving breathing and reducing the symptoms of respiratory problems. It may also increase energy levels and reduce fatigue.
Good for the heart
Oxygen therapy will benefit your cardiovascular system by forcing an increase of your blood’s oxygen saturation levels, enabling more organs to receive enough oxygen to keep functioning.
Better sleep
Improved breathing can lead to better sleep, helping to reduce symptoms of sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders. One way to help this is to be connected to an oxygen generator as you sleep, coupled by adequate sleeping positions and being able to sleep over seven or eight hours. The therapy may even be better through weight loss, reducing the risk of sleep apnoea.
Reduced shortness of breath
Oxygen therapy can help reduce shortness of breath, making it easier to perform daily activities and improve overall quality of life.
Reduced hospitalisation risk
For seniors with severe respiratory problems, oxygen therapy can help reduce risk of hospitalisation. It may even apply for people who have been confined before; an AIHW report from 2013 stated that long-term oxygen therapy for COPD patients after hospital admission may reduce the chances of being brought to the hospital again for confinement.
Undergoing Oxygen Therapy
Follow your doctor’s instructions
It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions when undergoing oxygen therapy. This includes wearing your oxygen equipment as directed and making any necessary adjustments to your oxygen flow.
Keep your equipment clean
Regularly cleaning your oxygen equipment can help prevent infections and improve the efficiency of your therapy. For safety reasons, make sure that all oxygen equipment must be far away from locations of extreme heat and should not be exposed to sunlight, as pure oxygen is a highly flammable gas. If you’re undergoing oxygen therapy in a room, everybody inside should not smoke or even light a match.
Stay active
Staying active and performing light exercises can help to improve your breathing and overall health. Men’s Line Australia has a list of potential breathing exercises that may attune your lungs for oxygen therapy.
Communicate with your doctor
If you experience any side effects or have any concerns about your therapy, it is important to liaise with your doctor as the situation permits.
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage
There’s much to gain with possibly undergoing oxygen therapy in your senior years. With respiratory systems being taxed more than ever in old age, elderly people need every available option to ensure they can breathe well.
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage may help in your needs for undergoing oxygen therapy, as part of a home care support programme. The resulting loan, depending on the assessment of your property equity, can be used to finance the purchase of an oxygen generator and its associated parts. Seniors going out and about may opt for mobile oxygen generators that are as big as regular handbags.
If you are in a home care programme with a live-in or visiting carer, the person should be trained to operate the device and maintain it; your treatment plan may outline the schedule for your therapy sessions. Consult your respiratory therapist and your doctor on how to set up the purchase of supplies under NDIS coverage. Please call the A.S.A.G. at 1300 002 724 or email to info@asagfirst.com.au to further discuss your oxygen therapy loan.
You can use our equity assessment tool to calculate the equity you need for your loan.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute official advice. A.S.A.G. is not affiliated with any mentioned brands or companies.