Going to the toilet can be one of these difficult tasks for our elderly loved ones. Unfortunately, with ageing come mobility issues! A raised toilet seat can be a practical addition to the bathroom as it helps to sit down or stand up from the toilet more easily.
This bathroom device provides a solution to the common difficulty that elderly people face:
- the lack of strength to properly sit on the toilet
- losing their balance whilst sitting
- maintaining stability when standing up
- not being able to bend the knees too far to sit on the toilet
It also helps pregnant women who experience pain when bending and it comes in handy for users with restricted movement to transfer onto and off the toilet.
HOW CAN A RAISED TOILET SEAT HELP YOU?
Asking for assistance while trying to use the toilet can be embarrassing for people dealing with limited mobility, strength and in some cases pain while bending. That is when a raised toilet seat can help.
A raised toilet seat is an assistive device that helps you, by increasing the height of the toilet seat. In turn, it reduces the effort needed to sit down or stand up and eases the pain experienced when you try to use the toilet. Toilet seat helps in various ways.
- It reduces physical pain and strain: for many seniors and those with mobility issues (such as seniors, arthritis, osteoporosis or Parkinson's) getting on and off the toilet can be a problem if a traditional toilet is set too low. The loss of strength in their legs, joints and muscles makes it difficult for them to comfortably sit on a regular toilet seat. By using a raised seat for the toilet, you decrease the height that you have to bend your joints in order to sit reducing the pain caused by moving the affected joints. When sitting on a toilet, you are mainly putting a strain on your hip and knees. Reducing the strain on the joints by using a toilet seat riser can prevent any eventual issues that might come over time.
- It eliminates the possibility of a fall: toilet seat risers equipped with hand grips can reduce the risk of your loved ones falling, significantly impacting their quality of life. Not only can they break a bone, but a fall can also create anxiety for further accidents, which can cause some to be less active and be more dependent.
- Independence for seniors: a toilet seat raiser is a useful bathroom device especially for our aging adults as it makes the usage of the bathroom less challenging increasing their independence. Having self-confidence and mental happiness is extremely important for their quality of life. Not having to seek assistance to go to the toilet can drastically improve these feelings and boost their mental and emotional state of mind.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM A RAISED TOILET SEAT?
If your toilet seat is too low, it makes it difficult for you to get up or sit down on the toilet due to the pain that comes from bending or the effort it takes to lower yourself.
We would recommend people with mobility issues such as:
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s
- Spine and back problems
- After recovering from a hip or knee surgery
- Those with excess weight
to have their homes equipped with a raised toilet seat. Our older adults can also benefit from the device.
FINDING THE RIGHT TOILET SEAT FOR YOU
Before you choose the right raised toilet seat for you, it is good to have a general idea about the different toilet seats designed for seniors.
1) Toilet seat risers are made from molded plastic
- making it comfortable to use due to its gentle contour surface
- making it easy to clean
2) Toilet seat raisers are designed to fit over most standard toilets: the normal and the elongated versions. They all have adjustable mounting brackets that allow you to fit them correctly to your toilet.
3) Some of those bathroom devices are sometimes equipped with a plastic lid that helps to mask any odour.
4) They are easy to attach or remove, making it convenient for most users to handle without needing any assistance. Great for taking with you when travelling!
5) Toilet seat risers are bathroom aids that come in different styles that are specific for your needs.
- In a toilet safety frame: the Multifunctional Over Toilet Frame from Ability Assist Australia is a free-standing bathroom frame that fits around the toilet and provides support when sitting or standing. It is a toilet seat raiser, shower chair, toilet handrail, walker and lifting aid in one. Customers rate our over toilet frame with raised toilet seat with 6 functions in 1 as practical addition to their bathroom.
Advantages: Ideal for your seniors, disabled, bariatrics and those with mobility issues: it makes getting on and of a toilet seat easy, prevents falls and accidental slips. It comes with a removable pan.
- With removable armrest: the 3-in-1 Toilet Seat Raiser from Aquasense, is a flexible elevated toilet seat with removable armrests designed to assist seniors and arthritis sufferers with the transfer on and off the toilet. Customers like the extra arm support that offers a sturdier product overall.
Advantages: it has 3 configurations (with 2 armrests, 1 armrest, and no armrest), it is ergonomic, portable and comfortable, and it is compatible either elongated or standard toilet. No tools required for assembly!
- With or without lid: You have the choice of these two options. A seat with a lid improves hygiene while the one without lid is even more flexible to take with you on holiday. The Raised Toilet Seat from Savanah has the option of both: with and without a flip-up lid.
Advantage: A raised toilet seat with a lid will help mask any odour and prevents spills.
- Different heights: the height of a raised toilet seat is between 5 and 15 cm. It has to be chosen according to suit the individual user’s needs. The perfect height of the seat is when the user has his feet comfortably on the ground while sitting easily and securely. The versatile Raised Toilet Seat from Savanah has a selection of 3 choices in height and with and without a lid. It is a convenient bathroom aid.
Advantages: Very useful when your traditional toilet is too low, gentle contour surface for extra comfort, easy to install tool-free.
CONCLUSION
Raised toilet seats are a practical solution for our loved ones with reduced mobility and strength. They help by increasing the height of standard toilet seat thereby reducing the efforts and sometimes the pain associated with using the toilet. These assistive aids make using a toilet seat and getting on and off it much simpler. They might not be stylish, but this practical device will especially help seniors who live alone or have limited mobility to stay more independent for longer.
If you would like to see our full-range of raised toilet seats, browse our website here.
The daily activity of toileting is a routine self-care task carried out by every human being.
For that particular segment of our society, we should consider a few things to carry out the basic activity of daily life: the access to the toilet facility and the capability to sit down and stand up from the toilet.
Here are some solutions that are available that can make life easier and better!Toilet Equipment for Everyday NeedsToilet equipment can be considered assistive in the bathroom as they effectively help a person to use the bathroom and toilet facilities safely and independently.
Such equipment includes commodes, over-toilet aids, shower chairs as well as fixtures like grab rails or other fittings that may be added to a bathroom or toilet area to help the person.
It assists in reducing the risk of injury or fall by minimizing travel, particularly at night when the user has to get up from the bed to go to the toilet.Over-Toilet FrameAn over-toilet frame is another one of those perfect prevention products that you could consider buying.
They are placed on top of the existing toilet seats.
With age, elderly people experience mobility and body balance issues.
You would need to help them every day with the showers, which might not be comfortable for any aged people.
These are a necessity as some of these injuries that they get while using the bathroom could be fatal.
What specifically would change if you install the shower seat in the bathroom for the aged people?The answer to this question is the blog below.No More Bathing EmbarrassmentsJust like we do not like when someone invades our private space, especially the bathroom, they have the same feeling too.
You want to help them as you are concerned about their safety, but this could turn out to be too embarrassing for many aged people.
This seat would provide them with the support that you want to give them.A Better Experience of ShowerThere are various benefits that the aged people can get from having a good long warm shower.
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