When a doctor prescribes oxygen for an older family member, the hospital stay or clinic visit is often the easy part. The harder questions come afterwards: where do you get the equipment, should you rent or buy, and how do you keep a flat safe with oxygen running in it every day? This guide explains how families usually approach an oxygen concentrator in Singapore, from sourcing the machine to daily safety habits.
This is general information, not medical advice. The flow rate, hours of use and type of equipment must come from your loved one’s doctor or respiratory team. Never change the settings without their advice.
How Home Oxygen Is Usually Prescribed
Home oxygen is prescribed for people whose blood oxygen levels stay low because of a lung or heart condition. A doctor typically decides after tests, and the prescription normally states:
- The flow rate, in litres per minute.
- When to use it, for example during sleep, during activity, or most of the day.
- The delivery method, usually nasal cannula (soft prongs in the nose) or a mask.
Before discharge, the ward team or a medical social worker often explains where to get equipment. Ask them directly: which suppliers they work with, whether a loan scheme is available, and whether the senior may qualify for financial assistance. Schemes and eligibility change, so get the current details from the hospital, the polyclinic, or the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which coordinates many eldercare support services.
Concentrator, Portable Unit or Cylinder: Which Fits
There are three common forms of home oxygen equipment. Many households end up with a combination.
| Option | How it works | Best for | Things to weigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stationary concentrator | Plugs into the wall, filters room air to deliver concentrated oxygen | Daily use at home, overnight use | Needs electricity, gives off heat and some noise, fairly heavy |
| Portable concentrator | Battery-powered, smaller, often carried on a trolley or shoulder strap | Outings, clinic visits, travel | Batteries need charging; check it can deliver the prescribed flow |
| Oxygen cylinder | Stores compressed oxygen in a metal tank | Backup during power cuts, short trips | Runs out and must be refilled or swapped; needs secure storage |
A stationary concentrator is the workhorse for most home users. A portable unit gives a senior more freedom to go downstairs, attend a senior activity centre or visit family. A small cylinder is a useful backup if the power goes out. Check with the doctor before relying on a portable unit, since not every model can deliver every prescription.
Renting or Buying Oxygen Equipment
Families in Singapore usually choose between renting from a medical equipment supplier, buying outright, or borrowing through a hospital or charity loan arrangement where one exists.
Renting tends to suit you when:
- The need may be short term, for example during recovery after a hospital stay.
- The doctor may change the prescription after a review.
- You want the supplier to handle servicing, filter changes and breakdowns.
Buying tends to suit you when:
- The doctor expects long-term oxygen use.
- You have compared total rental costs over several months against the purchase price.
- The supplier offers a clear warranty and local servicing.
Whichever route you take, ask the supplier these questions before signing:
- Does the unit meet the prescribed flow rate and does it have a low-oxygen or power-failure alarm?
- Who services it, how often, and how quickly will they respond to a breakdown?
- Is a backup cylinder included or available?
- What is the deposit, notice period and return condition for a rental?
- Are tubing, cannulas and humidifier bottles included or bought separately?
Prices vary widely between suppliers and models, so get written quotes from more than one. Ask the medical social worker whether any subsidy or assistive device scheme can help with the cost.
Setting Up the Flat Safely
Oxygen itself does not burn, but it makes fire start more easily and burn much faster. A little planning makes a big difference, especially in compact HDB flats.
- Place the concentrator in a ventilated spot, a little away from walls, curtains and furniture, so it does not overheat. Do not tuck it into a cupboard.
- Keep it well away from heat and flames, including gas stoves, candles, incense, joss sticks and heaters. Ask the supplier for a safe minimum distance.
- No smoking anywhere near the oxygen. Put up a simple “no smoking, oxygen in use” sign by the door for visitors.
- Plug it straight into a wall socket, not an extension cord or overloaded power strip.
- Store cylinders upright and secured, in a cool place out of direct sun, so they cannot be knocked over.
- Manage the tubing. Long tubing is a trip hazard. Route it along walls, avoid running it across doorways, and check it is not kinked under furniture.
Our guides to home fire safety in Singapore and creating a safe home for seniors cover smoke detectors, fall prevention and other measures that work alongside oxygen safety.
Daily Use and Care Habits
Small habits keep the equipment working and the user comfortable.
- Follow the prescription exactly. More oxygen is not automatically better, and too little defeats the purpose.
- Avoid oil-based products on the face, such as petroleum jelly, near the cannula. Ask a pharmacist or nurse about a water-based alternative if the nose or lips get dry.
- Clean and replace parts on schedule. Nasal cannulas, tubing and filters wear out. Follow the supplier’s instructions for washing the filter and changing disposable parts.
- Keep the humidifier bottle clean, if one is used, and fill it with the type of water the supplier recommends.
- Keep spare consumables at home so a broken cannula on a Sunday night is not an emergency.
- Charge portable batteries before every outing and carry a spare where possible.
Planning for Power Cuts and Emergencies
A concentrator stops working when the power goes out. Prepare before you need to.
- Keep a backup cylinder or a charged portable unit ready.
- Save the supplier’s breakdown number and the hospital or clinic contact in the senior’s phone and on the fridge.
- Make sure every family member and any live-in helper knows how to switch to the backup and check the flow.
- Learn the warning signs the doctor wants you to watch for, such as increased breathlessness, confusion or bluish lips, and what to do. In an emergency, call 995 for an ambulance.
Hot spells can also make breathing harder for seniors with lung conditions. See our tips on keeping active and safe during hot weather as a senior.
Supporting the Person, Not Just the Machine
Being on oxygen can feel limiting and sometimes embarrassing for an older person. A few gestures help:
- Involve them in choosing where the machine goes and how the tubing runs.
- Plan outings with a portable unit so they can keep seeing friends.
- Ask the care team about pulmonary rehabilitation or breathing exercises if suitable.
- Keep follow-up appointments, since prescriptions are often reviewed and adjusted.
With the right equipment, a clear routine and a safe set-up, many seniors continue to live comfortably at home on oxygen. Check every decision about settings and usage with their doctor, and lean on the hospital team and AIC for current support options.
Explore more: How to Create a Safe Home for Seniors in Singapore · Home Fire Safety in Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my parent adjust the oxygen flow rate if they feel more breathless? No, the flow rate, hours of use and equipment type must come from the doctor or respiratory team. More oxygen is not automatically better. If breathlessness worsens, confusion appears or lips turn bluish, follow the doctor’s guidance and call 995 in an emergency.
What do I do if the power goes out while my parent is on a concentrator? Switch to a backup cylinder or a charged portable unit straight away. Everyone at home, including any live-in helper, should know how to switch over and check the flow. Keep the supplier’s breakdown number saved on the phone and fridge.
Is it safe to cook with a gas stove near an oxygen concentrator? Keep the concentrator well away from gas stoves and any flame, since oxygen makes fire start more easily and burn faster. Ask the supplier for a safe minimum distance, and avoid candles, incense and joss sticks nearby. No smoking near the oxygen.
Can a senior on oxygen still go out or travel? Often yes, with a portable concentrator or small cylinder, so they can attend activities or visit family. Check with the doctor first, since not every portable model can deliver every prescription. Charge batteries before each outing and carry a spare.
What can I put on my parent’s dry lips or nose while using oxygen? Avoid oil-based products such as petroleum jelly near the cannula, as they are a fire risk with oxygen. Ask a pharmacist or nurse for a water-based alternative if the nose or lips get dry.
Official sources: HealthHub