Top 6 Bathroom and Toilet Aids for Seniors - 4 minutes read
With weakening muscle strength, failing eyesight, and limited movement, even the most routine stuff looks like an unachievable task for an elderly. Often, they are dependent on the caretaker for even using the toilet or going to the bathroom. But no more, with these seven bathrooms and toilet aids, elderlies can become independent and enjoy their privacy.
1. Commode Chair:
A commode chair is a necessity for the elderly as well as for the disabled person. It is portable equipment that offers them safety and autonomy, making them feel independent. It also preserves privacy for the elderly. There are many types of commode chairs that you need to choose from. You need to see which one best fits your elders.
2. Shower Chair:
Shower chairs for elderly are useful accessories for people with mobility problems. It helps enhance the bathing experience, minimizing the risk of them slipping down and falling. It helps the elderly having weak limbs or limited mobility issues. There are many types of shower chairs like wall-mounted shower chairs, shower chairs with arms, or shower chairs with a backrest. You need to figure out which one will best suit the needs of your elderly.
3. Anti Slip Mat:
Having anti-slip mats on places prone to wet conditions can decrease the risk of injury. The anti-skid texture ensures the safety of the elderly. It safeguards the feet by not letting it come directly in contact with a wet floor. It is extremely versatile and also gives you a grip to balance.
4. Grab Bars:
Grab bars can help you create a safer bathing environment. It helps prevent falls and injuries. Installing a grab bar inside and outside the tub, shower or toilet helps with an overall rich bathing experience. It helps maintain grip and balance their bodies while standing or sitting. It helps people with mobility issues and also people suffering from injuries, and disabilities. It provides additional stability to the elderly, making their trip safe to the bathroom or toilet.
5. Adjustable Toilet Frames:
33% of adults over the age of 65 will experience at least one fall in a year. So, it becomes crucial to make your home a mobility-friendly place for the elderly to prevent any falls. Adjustable toilet frames help provide relief by adjusting the height of the toilet and helping the elderly with mobility issues and also with limited mobility.
Raised toilet seats come in different shapes and sizes. You need to figure out which one is the best fit for your elders. The size, the height, and the toilet play an important role here.
6. Proper Doors and Flooring:
The doors should be able to open and shut quickly. Lever knobs are senior-friendly unlike those that require twisting. Instead of just removing the lock, you can access it in the case when required. It is also convenient for the door to just slide open in case of any emergency.
Flooring should provide a proper grip on wet floors where the floor can have water, soap, and other slippery lotions and gels. Thus, you need proper flooring that is made from a non-slip material. Ceramics, epoxy, and rubberised floors are the most common ones that work well as bathroom floorings.
7. Perching Stools
Perching stools are the best match when it comes to the elderly who prefer to sit down for most of their daily chores. This stool helps the elderly to take the weight off their feet, making them feel comfortable in a seating position.
One key feature of perching stools is that it is waterproof. This is what makes it ideal for using in the shower. To offer additional safety from water, the perching stool comes with four rubber feet to prevent the elderly from slipping.
This stool weighs only 4kg which makes it easy to carry and move around. What makes this aid truly remarkable is its ability to take a user weight of up to 153 Kg.
Conclusion:
The elderly need to use the bathroom and toilet on a daily basis. No doubt, it is an important place that needs to be secured and made senior friendly. It should be well designed and secured by adding all the above-mentioned basic yet important aids. You need to choose which type of shower chair or toilet chair is the best fit for your elderly. These help the elderly feel a sense of comfort and independence. Also, it enhances their experience while bathing or having a safe trip to the toilet. This also reduces their chances of falling in such places with wet and slippery floors and makes their tasks easy.