Toileting Aids, Commode Chair, Handicap Bathroom Accessories

What Are Toileting Aids?

Eliminating bodily waste and using the toilet is a universal and basic human need commonly achieved by most people, but that common function can turn into a daily challenge when an individual has a disability. Toileting aids for weakened or disabled individuals can make it possible for them to use the bathroom without any assistance from a caregiver or family member, helping to maintain their dignity, privacy and independence in the bathroom. Offering a wide diversity of helping tools, toileting aids encompass splash guards, elevated toilet seats, free standing commodes, and a variety of self-wiping aids.

Who Can Benefit from Toileting Aids?

Anyone with limited use of their hands and/or arms, or those who lack the manual dexterity to function independently while practicing the necessary bathroom hygiene can all benefit from the use of toileting aids. For example, people with severe arthritis may have difficulties getting up from a standard toilet seat; therefore a toileting aid such as a raised toilet seat can help to minimize the problem.

Other individuals that could use toileting assistance are people with immobile and stiff joints, nerve damage after a stroke, people with paralyzed or weakened muscles, wheelchair users, little people (dwarfism), individuals with multiple sclerosis, obese people, people recovering from various types of surgery, senior citizens, people without arms or legs, people with back problems, and individuals with cognitive or developmental disabilities. Of course, toileting aids are also quite helpful to the caregivers who help take care of people. People in need of assistance with hygiene and toileting often appreciate being given the option of taking care of their own needs by themselves.

Some Examples of Toileting Aids

Toilet safety frame – These safety arms can be placed directly over the toilet, or can be attached to the toilet. Sometimes, they are also automatically included in the design of some models of elevated toilet seats. They provide extra stability to an individual when sitting down or getting up from a toilet seat.

Toilet seat risers or elevated toilet seat – The most inexpensive and common models of toilet seat risers and elevated toilet seats are semicircular or circular hollow plastic forms that raise the toilet seat height from a few inches to about a foot, and is placed right over the standard toilet seat. The added height to the toilet seat will help ease the stress on the hips and knees of the user. Some risers may be ergonomically shaped hard plastic, or may come with padded, wipe-clean material that is available in both hard plastic and softer, cushioned styles. While many are designed to be placed right on top of a standard toilet seat, another version can take the place of a standard toilet seat. Several toilet seat risers are specially contoured to more evenly distribute the user’s weight. Others highlight built-in safety rails to help steady and secure the user with sitting onto, and rising from the seat.

Toilet transfer bench – This toileting aid assists wheelchair bound individuals to transfer from a wheelchair safely to the toilet by sliding along the bench. Mounting easily under the toilet lid, the toilet transfer bench allows for safe transfers for handicapped individuals.

Backside wiping aid – This is a useful hygienic aid for individuals with limited dexterity and/or range of motion who find it difficult or impossible to complete their own personal cleaning. They generally work by helping to extend the user’s reach to their backside. Toileting wiping aids can be used with moistened wipes or toilet paper, and many of them have a quick release button for quick and convenient sanitary disposal of the wipes and tissues. There are several different types of wiping aids such as tongs, wiping wands, or backside wipers. Each wiping device serves the same purpose but with a slightly different style design to help apply lotions and hygienic cleaning, as well.

Splashguard – This is an assistive attachment device that fits into the front of most toilet seats. When the user is in a seated position on the toilet seat, the splashguard cup will deflect urine down into the toilet bowl, helping to prevent embarrassing and messy accidents. This device is useful for both children and adults who may have cognitive, physical, or developmental disabilities, and may have difficultly using the toilet independently.

Anus stimulator – Mostly used by individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries or other types of paralyzing conditions, anus stimulators are inserted into the anus to help encourage bowel elimination. They are generally more effective and sterile than using manual stimulation. Suppository inserters work in much the same way, and are used to insert suppositories for quadriplegics, and for other paralysis condition applications.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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