Facility is saying that oxygen has to be handled by her and not their nurses and any assistance would be "skilled nursing" not assisted living even though they rated her at a level 3. Is this correct? We are paying 8100 for room and board which includes Level 3 care at $450 each additional care for her and her partner. But they don't want to help her with the oxygen.
Moms AL was small so only one RN was in charge. She did not physically care for the residents. She order meds, kept State records, was there if medical attn was needed or evaluate to send to the hospital. She also evaluated a resident for the level of care that would be needed before the resident moved in. If the facility was aware Mom was on oxygen when evaluated, you need to ask what has changed since the initial evaluation?
Speak to the Executive Director to get your questions answered and to address your concerns. If they were unwilling to help her in any way with oxygen, then why did they accept her into their facility with oxygen to BEGIN with? That would be my first question to the ED, and it would be a very direct question! If they're trying to charge you at a higher level of care for the oxygen usage, then again, I'd ask why you weren't informed of that UP FRONT since she arrived at their place with an oxygen tank!
Good luck!
Gaut, is your mother using a stationary oxygen concentrator, or portables? I'm assuming she uses oxygen 24/7, so a concentrator would be the only reasonable source. They're heavy, but durable and easy to use.
Other options: E tanks are somewhat heavy, and at a 2 Liter flow would generally last about 2 hours (at least that was the situation when my father was on oxygen.) They're much too heavy for an older person to lift and change.
Portable units are easier to handle, but since the shift was made from using a number of portable batteries to a stationary battery that needed regular recharging, they have less of a life and aren't that reliable for more than a few hours.
The stationary concentrators do require nominal maintenance. The water bottle generally needs refilling daily, with distilled water, and regular cleaning. If I remember correctly, there's also a filter on the side of the concentrator that requires weekly cleaning. And cannulas need to be changed, but I don't recall how often a facility would change them.
I have the feeling this company is still on a shakedown cruise and working out its support and care systems. If they stand firm on no support for oxygen needs though, I definitely would start looking around.