Discover why oxygen concentrators are essential for the elderly, with detailed benefits for respiratory and cardiovascular health, guidelines for effective therapy, and safety considerations. Learn how to tailor oxygen therapy to individual needs for optimal health outcomes.
Why do the elderly need oxygen?
- Due to the decline in physical function, the elderly often suffer from hypoxia, which makes the blood viscosity thicker, the blood flow slower, and the red blood cells have poor ability to bind oxygen.
- The common angina pectoris in the elderly is caused by temporary myocardial hypoxia.
- When the cells in the human brain are hypoxic, the ability to absorb chemical components will be reduced, resulting in the accumulation of chemical components and the formation of toxicity.
What are the benefits of oxygen concentrators for the elderly?
Whether oxygen concentrators benefit the elderly depends mainly on their specific health conditions. For elderly people with specific health problems, using oxygen concentrators can indeed bring many benefits:
- Improve respiratory diseases:
For elderly people with respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cor pulmonale, etc., oxygen concentrators can provide necessary oxygen supplements, relieve dyspnea, reduce acute attacks, and improve the quality of life.
- Auxiliary treatment of cardiovascular diseases:
Patients with coronary heart disease can quickly relieve symptoms and stabilize their condition by timely oxygen inhalation at the early stage of the disease. It has a positive effect on preventing recurrence of the disease and consolidating the treatment effect.
- Prevent and relieve hypoxia:
With age, the elderly may experience vascular sclerosis, resulting in a decrease in oxygen partial pressure in the body. Appropriate oxygen inhalation helps prevent various geriatric diseases caused by hypoxia, such as cerebrovascular disease and acute attacks of chronic bronchitis.
Long-term appropriate oxygen inhalation can enhance the material metabolism of cells, tissues, and organs and improve immunity. It helps prevent and treat cerebral ischemia, coronary heart disease, asthma, etc.
For elderly people with no obvious diseases but poor sleep quality and are easily fatigued, appropriate oxygen inhalation may improve their mental state, improve sleep, and reduce dizziness and fatigue.
- Prevention of geriatric diseases:
Appropriate oxygen therapy helps maintain normal blood oxygen concentration and prevent geriatric diseases caused by decreased oxygen partial pressure, such as Alzheimer's.

How long is the best time for the elderly to breathe oxygen every day
The time and method of oxygen inhalation for the elderly should be adjusted according to their health status, doctor's advice, and oxygen demand. Generally, the time and frequency of oxygen therapy are determined by the following factors:
- The severity of chronic diseases
Mild to moderate respiratory problems (such as COPD):
If the elderly have mild or moderate chronic respiratory problems, they may need oxygen therapy for about 1 to 2 hours a day. In this case, oxygen supplementation is usually given during activities, especially during physical activities or rest at night.
Severe respiratory problems or severe hypoxemia:
If the elderly have poor lung function, continuous oxygen therapy may be required, even 24 hours a day. This situation is usually suitable for patients with chronic hypoxia (such as severe COPD patients or emphysema patients).
In general, oxygen therapy is usually required when the blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) is less than 90%. If the elderly's blood oxygen level is lower than this value for a long time, it is recommended to use oxygen all day or regularly according to the doctor's guidance.
For older adults whose blood oxygen levels are close to normal (e.g., between 90%-92%), oxygen therapy may be limited to shorter periods during activity or sleep.
At rest:
For most older adults who do not have severe breathing problems, oxygen is usually only needed during rest (e.g., resting or sleeping). In general, if oxygen levels are low, oxygen may be considered during sleep, especially for older adults with sleep apnea.
During exercise/activity:
If older adults experience shortness of breath or fatigue during heavier physical activity, oxygen therapy can help maintain blood oxygen saturation during activity and improve activity tolerance. In this case, oxygen therapy may be used for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the individual's physical strength and activity.
Each older adult has a different health condition and different oxygen requirements. Therefore, the best time and frequency of oxygen therapy should be determined based on individual symptoms and the doctor's advice. Doctors usually use a blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) test to determine whether oxygen therapy time needs to be increased.
- Recommendations for the use of oxygen equipment
If a portable oxygen concentrator is used, the elderly can carry it with them as needed during daily activities. Portable oxygen concentrators are usually suitable for short-term use (1 to 2 hours), especially when going out or when the external environmental conditions are poor.
For fixed oxygen concentrators, they are usually used for a long time at home, especially for the elderly who need a continuous oxygen supply.
But please note that neither the elderly nor the young should over-inhale oxygen. Excessive oxygen inhalation may cause oxygen poisoning, lung damage, and central nervous system damage, and will also inhibit respiratory reflexes and aggravate the patient's breathing difficulties. Oxygen therapy should be carried out strictly according to the doctor's instructions to ensure the use of appropriate oxygen flow and time. Regular testing of blood oxygen levels can help determine whether the amount of oxygen needs to be increased or decreased.