A toilet is one such place that, as a person, we have to use multiple times during the day. So, you must provide a safe and secure toilet to your elderly. It is important because there are more chances of falling and slipping on the wet floors of the toilet. So, you need to take extra precautions for that. Keep reading further to help your elderly by providing them with the proper toilet assistance they require.
Proving proper assistance is not easy, but assistive aids can help you do that. We have listed down a few toilet assistive aids that are majorly used.
- Padded Toilet Seat:
Padded toilet seats are what your elderly want. It is not what they will ask you for, but as a caretaker, it is your responsibility that you provide them with it to make sure that they feel safe and secure in their washroom. Providing them with soft seats makes them more comfortable. It works best for people having back issues and other disabilities.
Selecting an ideal padded toilet seat is important because you need to ensure that the size is right for your elderly and that the material used for padding is good. Also, you need to make sure that it has sturdy hinges, which reduces the chances of hurting themselves by falling and slipping.
Usually, the padded seats are either round or elongated in shape. You need to figure out the best fit for your elderly.
- Raised Toilet Seat:
Raised toilet seats are designed for the elderly. It helps replace the existing toilet seat with a more heightened seat for easy transfer. It is useful because it requires less movement. It is easily attachable to the existing toilet bowl. And it is up to your elderly, like whether they need a toilet seat with or without armrests. It also helps reduce the legs and hips movement.
You need to make sure that you have a lock or any other clamping mechanisms that are slip-resistant, bearing the weight of the elderly. Also, it should be light in weight and have a proper thickness.
- Toilet Frames:
Toilet frames are a very useful aid designed keeping the elderly in mind. It helps them stand and sit on the commode by surrounding the toilet seat, providing a good grip for the elders to hold on to. Generally, it is made from metal that helps lift their weight and carry their movement. It also helps provide extra stability while using the toilets.
Mostly, these frames are placed fixed to the floor. One major pro about this is that it can be either free-standing or fixed permanently to the floor, and you can customize it according to your own needs. Like if your elderly does not require a rail without an in-build toilet seat, then you can get that made for them.
It has armrests and handholds to help assist transfer to and from the seating position. It is useful, especially when it is not possible to install handrails on the walls or when the toilet seat does not need to be raised. Also, you can remove it when not in use.
- Commode Cushions:
Commode cushions are useful for bony people. It helps reduce the pressure on the lower body. Regular commode seats do not have a comfortable seat, which is so uncomfortable that it puts a lot of pressure on the legs, knees, and other digestive organs, including the rectal organs. So, a commode cushion helps provide a soft foam material that can be placed on the commode seat. It provides comfort to the body of the elderly and also helps increase the hygiene levels of the user as well.
- Commode Chairs:
A commode chair is designed to act as a toilet for people with some kind of leg injury or illness that enables them to walk in the bathroom. It helps provide them with a sense of confidence and independence that is needed at that age. It helps provide stability and comfort by reducing the risks of falling and getting hurt. A commode chair makes it easier for the caretakers to transfer them to the bathroom.
It becomes difficult at times to take the wheelchair inside the toilet, but because the doors are too narrow for them, it is impossible. In such cases, commode chairs work the best.
Conclusion:
Many toilet aids can help your elderly to make them feel safe and secure in an enclosed place like a toilet. But, because it has water usage, you need to make sure that it is safe to use for the elderly. Disabled toilet seat, commode frames, raised toilet chairs, and other aids are easily available in the market. You need to figure out which ones will be best for your elderly, depending on their health and medical condition. Hope we helped you find answers to the questions you initially had.
