Setting Up a CPAP for an Elderly Parent at Home

Often the person arranging a CPAP machine is not the person who will use it. A son or daughter in another town gets the news from the clinic, then has to sort out a machine, a mask and a routine for a parent who may not be comfortable with gadgets. This guide is for that situation.

It covers practical setup at home. It does not cover settings. Pressure settings and any comfort settings come from your parent's doctor or sleep clinic, and any questions about how your parent is doing belong with them too.

Start with the clinic's instructions

Before you choose anything, collect what the clinic has given you. Note the settings, any comments about the mask type, and any follow-up appointments. If your parent tried a mask during a sleep study, write down which type it was. These details make the rest of the choices much easier.

Choosing a machine for a parent

When simple matters most

The AirStart 10 is built around simple controls: plug in, press Start. For a parent who does not want to learn a menu, that can make the nightly routine easier to keep. Purchase starts from RM4,500, or it can be rented at RM280 a month with an upfront payment of RM800.

When the clinic asks for comfort settings

If the clinic wants features such as AutoRamp or EPR, the AirSense 10 AutoSet lists them. It also has SmartStart, so therapy can begin when your parent breathes into the mask. Purchase starts from RM6,500, with an instalment plan of RM600 × 12 months and no credit card, or rental at RM450 a month. Our comparison of the two sets out the differences.

Renting first

Renting first gives your parent time to get used to the routine. Part of the rental can count towards buying later; how much is confirmed on WhatsApp. You can see all the options in our comparison table.

Choosing a mask

Masks are sold separately, from RM600 for the mask only. We list three types: the AirFit N20 nasal mask, the AirFit F20 full face mask and the AirFit P30i nasal pillows. For an older parent, a few things are worth thinking about:

• Can they put the mask on and take it off without help, including at night?
• Do they wear dentures, and does the clinic have any advice about that?
• Do they breathe through the mouth when asleep?
• Do clips and straps feel easy for their hands?

Raise these with the clinic, then see our mask section for the three types.

Setting up the bedroom

Where the machine goes

• On a stable surface at about mattress height or slightly lower, next to the side of the bed your parent sleeps on.
• Close to a power point, so no cable crosses the walkway.
• Away from curtains that could block the air intake.
• Where the water tub can be removed easily each morning.

Cables and tubing

Night-time trips to the bathroom are when cables and tubing get in the way. Keep the power cable along the wall, and let the tubing run up to the pillow rather than across the floor. A small night light can help your parent see the machine and the path to the door.

A routine your parent can follow

A short written card next to the machine, in the language your parent reads, can make a big difference. Keep it to a few steps:

1. Fill the water tub to the line.
2. Put the mask on and adjust the straps.
3. Press Start, or breathe in if the machine uses SmartStart.
4. In the morning, switch off, empty the tub and leave it to dry.

Our article on water tub care has more on the daily cleaning routine.

Sharing the work between family members

If you live in a different town from your parent, agree who checks on the machine, who reorders filters and cushions, and who goes with your parent to clinic appointments. Writing down the machine model, mask type and size in one shared place saves time when something needs replacing.

Arranging delivery to your parent's home

You can order on your parent's behalf. Delivery covers all of Malaysia, and how and when it reaches the house is arranged on WhatsApp. You can order from one city for a parent in another, for example from Kuala Lumpur for a parent in Alor Setar, Kota Bharu or Melaka. Let us know who will be at home to receive it.

Questions to ask the clinic

• What settings should the machine use, and who will put them in?
• Which mask type do you suggest for my parent?
• What should we do if my parent finds the mask uncomfortable?
• When is the next follow-up?

Arranging a CPAP for a parent? Message us now.