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Toilet Assistance For Elderly: (Learn Best 9 Aids)

Due to the limited mobility and physical restriction of older individuals, toilet assistance for elderly is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of their lives. Access to comfortable toileting would promote good hygiene and overall well-being.

Toilet assistance for elderly would secure independence and help maintain the dignity of the older people by preventing the unwanted falls and injuries in the toilet. The complimentary benefit that comes with it reduces the caregiver strain and shortens the responsibility, which can be physically and emotionally challenging.

Toilet Assistance For Elderly

The inadequate methods of holding back during urination or defection can be disregarded with the help of toilet assistance for elderly, older adults, and other disabled individuals.

Toilet Assistance for Elderly People

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The discomfort and embarrassment brought while toileting without assistance or device support would put the seniors in dangerous conditions.

Especially when the toilet is unsafe in design and inappropriate without having any support channels or linkages attached within the utility system, it can even prove more dangerous, especially to disabled people.

Each year, more than 3 million older individuals get fall injuries (not specifically in toilets) and get admitted to emergency treatment departments to be cured, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Further data suggest 1 out of every five seniors suffers from falling injuries, including bathroom injuries, which are more than 80% due to no support arrangements in toilets. More than 800,000 patients per year get hospitalized due to fall injuries.

Physical limitations, reduced mobility, impairment, and other health issues of older people can severely impact the inner motivation to act for older people. Moreover, the support dependency affects them mentally, killing their dignity in unparallel ways entering their social values.

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9 Toilet Aids For The Elderly Seniors

The following toilet assistive modifications or installments would reduce the risk of falling and other severe health conditions, including fatality.

  1. Raised Toilet Seats
    • The increased height of the toilet seats can bring easiness during the process of sitting, giving the mobility factor certain easiness. It helps to refrain from straining the knees and hips of the elderly.
  2. Toilet Safety Frames
    • The armrest frames along both sides of the toilet seat can be arrested so that the toilet user can place their hands over them or get the hold back while standing up. They can also be used as the free surrounding rails around the seat.
  3. Commodes
    • This is a portable chair with a toilet bowl beneath the chair seat. It is designed for use in the bedroom or anywhere the toilet cannot be accessed. Most disabled people use the commodes but with a bit of discomfort of cleanliness under the toilet assistance for elderly.
  4. Bellavita Auto Bath Lifter
    • This is mainly used in bath tubes to lift the elders from the toilet seat. People with mobility issues or disabled can use it regularly in the bathroom.
  5. Bidet Attachments
    • Bidet attachment is the cleaning supply attached along the side of the seat in a way that can be easily accessed and controlled. You can add them when the elderly have mobility issues, especially during cleaning.
  6. Transfer Benches
    • When bathrooms have enough space, you can use it as a supporting tool to transfer from your toilet seat to elsewhere, typically to bath tubes. You can install them to provide older people with independence in their movements.
  7. Non-slip Mats
    • This is extremely important and plays a significant role in toilet assistance for elderly. You can reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom with the help of non-slip mats. Rubber or Vinyl mats are typically used to cover the wet tiles, usually mildew-resistant.
  8. Cushioned Toilet Seats
    • Use the cushioned toilet seats made of foam, gel, or other soft materials providing extra comfort while sitting. It feels warmer over the plastic or wooden toilet seats during the colder season and relieves pressure, especially if you have sore or pressure joints.
  9. Emergency Toilet Alarming
    • This has received a positive application over the years due to the risk factors involved in leaving seniors alone in the bathrooms and toilets. An alarming system would warn the outside people of anything unusual and keep you stress-free when they are using the toilets.

We’ve briefly discussed the best solution and tips that provide toilet assistance for elderly. You can utilize one of these aids and install them within your bathroom and toilet systems to edge safety and security.

See More: Free Government Money For Seniors Over 50

Why Do You Require Toilet Assistance?

The following scenarios can be emerged without having the proper support or assistive facilities in the toilet for the elderly.

  • It’s difficult for the elderly to sit down or stand up from the toilet seat; without proper holding channels or mountains.
  • The inappropriate obstacles around the toilet seats would demotivate the safe movement. You need to declutter the cramped bathrooms and navigate the straightforward ways to ease the reach towards the seat.
  • The seat’s height would impact the sitting position and standing difficulties; too high or too low seats are not suggested for elderly people. You can use the lifters as one of the toilet assistance for elderly.
  • Many don’t care the bathroom cleanliness and promote germs and bacteria to the existing conditions. Toilet seats can be a hotspot for germs. Without proper cleaning, hygiene cannot be maintained, affecting the immunity and overall well-being of the elderly.
  • Older people are prone to losing their balance often, and when the toilet space is not attached by sufficient bar lengths or grab handles, the risk of falls may increase.

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Conclusion

The provided discussion on toilet assistance for elderly has been authentic and well-researched information. You can get a brief overview of the toileting concerns and risk factors for older seniors. You can also learn why you require assistive or support systems in your bathrooms.

FAQs

How can I help my elderly person with toileting?

Try to install assistive support tools or devices within your toilet system, such as grab bars, safety frames, long handles, non-slip mats, raised seats, lifters, and transfer batches.

What devices help you get off toilet?

You can take support from the surrounding toilet frames or grab bars to get off the seats. There are also seat lifters or transfer batches to escape the toilet seat.

How can I help a dementia patient with toileting?

You can provide assistive toileting aids like transfer batches, cushioned toilet seats, grab bars, and long-holding handles to protect them from falling along with emotional support without affecting their dignity.

Kruti Asta

Kruti Asta, a three-time award-winning journalist and an author at Grant Supporter, passionately covers stories of the low-income and needy. Through her extensive research and articulate writing, she provides accessible information on assistance programs, grants, and other forms of help, embodying her belief in our collective responsibility towards humanity.

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