How should we and the nursing home handle my mother’s non-compliance with CPAP?

Update: We did see her neurologist today, and he agreed with me. He said to encourage her to use the mask, but don’t stress her over it. I also got him to admit that the doctor or nurse practitioner at the nursing home can handle the yearly prescription for her and my father. These appointments are so exhausting for my parents as they can’t transfer and have to be transported in their wheelchairs by the facility bus. One appointment can take up to 4 hours!

We are learning that my parents had way, way too many doctors’ appointments when we were taking care of them at home. They had excellent health insurance in addition to Medicare, which made it easy for the doctors to say, “come back for a follow up”, or “I need to see him again in 4 months”.

I agree at 87 and it would cause her to lose sleep trying to keep the darn thing on, forgot it. Let her be comfortable with her oxygen via nasal cannula.
I honestly don’t know why these doctors would even prescribe it ( I understand for sleep apnea but geez, @ 87?

Do you know what the results are? If you don't know the results, ask about the Sleep Study results when your Mom sees neurologist next time.

There are different types of "Sleep Studies". Some of the most accurate are those that are performed by a "Sleep Study Department" and the patient "sleeps" in a bed while being monitored and has electrodes attached to their head to monitor sleep rhymes and tubes in their nostrils to monitor air flow. I have heard of "Sleep Studies" where the patient uses a CPAP that has a microchip and the patient rents the CPAP, uses the CPAP while they sleep in their own bed at home and then, afterwards, a technician "reads" the microchip from the CPAP. I don't think that those are very accurate except to maybe determine the amount of pressure from the CPAP that you need while sleeping.

I’m sorry, I was misinformed. She did have the sleep study.

A respiratory therapist here.. I totally agree without a sleep study it is next to useless. The study helps to determine the amount of pressure you need, Otherwise its a guess at best. I work in an ICU, and myself and my coworkers are always "laughing" when a surgeon or intensivist orders CPAP for a pt because they "snore", or wake up. NO study, no billable reason.. just because! And they ask US what the settings should be.. UHH "Willie Nelson and Elton John??" They don't listen when we say "who knows",,so we just usually say 5,, it's the smallest number we can use, can't hurt, probably won't help since we have NO idea! And we know they go home, without one, and most don't follow up. But the Dr is happy, and he is the one writing the orders.

I agree with Jeanne. Be glad that your Mom is accepting of the oxygen cannula. And tell the doctor that your Mom does not use the CPAP so you want it discontinued.

Without a sleep study, a doctor is guessing as to the cause of the sleep apnea. There ARE several different causes. My Mom, my brother and I all use CPAPs but the root cause of our sleep apnea is different. My Mom can go without the CPAP and have little trouble with breathing, but I HAVE to use the CPAP whenever I am lying down, even in the recliner.

If your Mom has lived this long without using the CPAP every night, then she probably doesn't have a major or severe form of sleep apnea and can go without the CPAP.

Just tell the doctor she is/was not using it and there is no point in getting another prescription. (And having this prescribed without a sleep study -- what is that all about?)

Rejoice that she is accepting of the cannula.