One of the greatest difficulties for most seniors is mobility, in many cases one can become tired after standing longer periods of time, in addition to leg fatigue from extended standing seniors often experience difficulties while sitting or standing. The motions of sitting and standing can be particularly dangerous and difficult for those with knee problems or weakness in the legs….
Two very different problem areas exist in the bathroom as they relate to sitting and standing, the commode and the shower, thankfully there are concrete solutions for both. As we concluded earlier the mixture of soap, water and slippery surface produces a particularly dangerous scenario, lets take a look at this area first.
Bath seating is available in many different forms, ranging from the most basic Bath Stool all the way up to Roll in PVC shower equipment and everything in between. For the purpose of this guide to Bath Safety we will focus on the lower half, do keep in mind that while we have one of the largest varieties of Bath Safety products available, there are many complex bath safety tools available as well, if you feel you or your loved one may have a need for something more specific, to fit a more challenging need or if you simply aren’t certain what you need, we invite you to call us and schedule a Free in home evaluation to determine the best tools for your individual space. That being said, lets take a look at some of the most common bathroom seating configurations, in order from least support to greatest support:
1. Bath Stools- Bath stools are geared towards someone who requires little support, by nature the stool seat is smaller, which makes the stool more compact and easy to move when necessary. Most bath stools will have a weight capacity ranging from 300-400lbs. Which tends to be higher than most other common bath seats.
2. Bath Benches- a bath bench is the most common bath seat available; these bath seats offer a wide variety of options and styles. The most common options will include the addition of a backrest and arms, while the most basic bath bench may seem like a good option, consider adding on a back rest for additional comfort and arms for added support while standing or sitting. Another ideal option in a bath chair is a seat cutout; the cutout allows access to washing private areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach while in a seated position.
3. Transfer Bench- one of the most difficult tasks for seniors is the motion of stepping over a high tub in order to enter a shower. Transfer seats are very similar to bath benches as they provide a secure seat while showering. The additional benefit of a transfer bench is the ease it creates when stepping over a tub. Transfer Benches are longer in stance as they are designed to sit over a tub, one set of legs sits inside the shower while the other sits outside. This seat will allow the user to sit on the area outside of the shower and slide into the shower without having to step over the tub.
It is important to remember that proper fit is essential when selecting a bath seat. Before heading out to find the perfect seat, take a few measurements of the space available the width of the tub/shower will be very useful as we determine the amount of space you have available. Keep in mind every product has a different footprint, that being said no one product will fit every application. Bath benches, stools and transfer benches are all available in HD models that will serve a user over 350lbs.
The second most dangerous area in the restroom is the commode. Many seniors struggle with the sitting or standing motion required safely sitting on or standing from the commode. Many different factors such as fatigue, knee weakness, arthritis can contribute to difficulties using the commode. While battling with this particular area we want to focus on two specific areas, by adding additional height to commode seats and by adding a support point accidents associated with using the commode can be greatly diminished.
Elevated Toilet Seats provide additional height to a toilet seat, which makes it much easier to sit and stand from. There are a few varieties available when electing an elevated toilet seat the most important feature is a locking mechanism. While elevated toilet seats offer great support, a toilet seat with a lock will provide the additional height as well as increase stability while in use. The second most commonly found option in toilet seats is the addition of arms, this feature will provide a support point for sitting and standing, if additional support is needed consider a Locking Elevated Toilet Seat with Arms.
For those that prefer a more mild support, consider adding a Toilet Safety Frame, these safety frames are easy to use and install without tools in just a few minutes. Toilet Safety frames act as grab bars that are directly anchored to the commode and are an inexpensive low hassle solution to most difficulties found while sitting or standing from a commode.
In addition to adding these tools, consider adding a 3 in 1 Commode to your bedroom, a 3 in 1 acts as a travel commode. These commodes serve three functions, they provide an in room commode to limit the distance traveled to use the commode in addition they can also be used as a shower seat and a toilet safety frame. While these are typically larger than a toilet safety frame they work well as a means of a bathroom safety tool for traveling
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