Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) Practice Test

Is it true that oxygen from a portable source must be used by residents when they are outside their room?

1. True

2. False

3. Only in emergencies

4. Only during physical activities

The correct answer is: True

Using oxygen from a portable source by residents when they are outside their room is indeed a critical safety measure in a residential care facility for the elderly. This requirement ensures that residents who have oxygen therapy prescriptions receive consistent oxygen levels necessary to maintain their health and wellbeing, particularly when they are away from their designated oxygen supply areas. Residents who depend on supplemental oxygen are at risk for low oxygen saturation levels if they do not have access to it when outside of their rooms. Portable oxygen tanks or concentrators provide the flexibility to maintain necessary oxygen levels even when moving around the facility or outdoors. The other options suggest conditions where oxygen might not be required, which could compromise a resident's health. For instance, suggesting that oxygen usage is only for emergencies or only during physical activities does not account for the continuous needs of residents who rely on supplemental oxygen throughout their daily activities, regardless of the context. Thus, consistent and ready access to oxygen is paramount in supporting the overall health of those residents.