[knittingkitten]

If an elderly relative lives in a nursing home, is their oxygen covered by Medicare?

[melaine]

For high level (nursing home) residents in Victoria - oxygen, and oxygen related equipment is provided by the nursing home.

eta - it's my understanding that it is covered without extra charge because it is a service that high level facilities must provide when needed.

This post has been edited by melaine: 28/12/2012, 07:39 PM

[4kidlets]

When I worked in Aged Care in SA, residents' oxygen in residential care was covered at no charge to themselves.

[knittingkitten]

My relative is in NSW.

I've been told that the oxygen he's on is very expensive? Would that be if he uses a portable tank?

[4kidlets]

Oxygen cylinders are very expensive, most residents and people at home would only use the small portable cylinders for going out - for everyday life at home they would use a concentrater, a large machine thing on wheels which plugs into power point and wheels from room to room converting room air into concentrated oxygen then delivered t o person via nasal piece.The nursing home I worked at owned 3 or 4 of these. People at home would pay a small monthly rental from domicillary care or similar home care organisation

[rosiebird]

Home oxygen is covered in very specific medical circumstances which unfortunately do not cover all the people who would benefit from it. If their oxygen level is >60mmmHg after a 6min walk off oxygen or they smoke, they are not eligible for home O2.

[jojonbeanie]

It varies from state to state. In Victoria oxygen is provided by the State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP)

[hayleymumof3]

I've been told that the oxygen he's on is very expensive? Would that be if he uses a portable tank?

Who told you that it was very expensive?

When my grandfather was dying he had really bad bedsores and the hospital got a special air bed in for him(it moved so it didn't apply pressure to his sore or create any more) the warden was grumbling about how the air bed was costing the hospital $500 per day to cover. My Aunt asked him what the problem was as it wasn't like it was coming out of his paycheck that shut him up real quick as did the stern words from the NUM of the ward my grandfather was on.

[Two Sunflowers]

(hope you don't mind if I jump in, OP?) Mum will need oxygen at home at some point (Dr said she could have it now if she wanted but she has decided not just yet). She is in Vic. Will she have to pay for oxygen at home and how much would she likely have to pay. She has Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - hasn't smoked for 30 years.

Ed to say she is living in her own home

This post has been edited by Two Sunflowers: 28/12/2012, 11:30 PM

[knittingkitten]

Who told you that it was very expensive?

I'm sorry your family had that experience at such a difficult time.

Another relative, who is unreliable at best, told me. The older relative is on one of the nursing home's concentrators that a PP described. He doesn't currently use a portable tank. He doesn't smoke (for over 10 years now).

I am considering paying for a portable tank for him.