Hi All
Would like some opinions on best method. My husband is still mobile but needs help with all ADLs. He is starting to have trouble sitting on the toilet. He's getting wobbly & unsure when he goes to sit. I was thinking of grab rails but he can only use one hand & it's sometimes hard to get through to him to hold onto things. So whether a seat riser or over the toilet chair is possibly a better alternative. Would be interested in peoples views & experiences.
TIA
Kerry
Hi Kerry
If you can get an OT to come and do an assessment they are very good at this sort of stuff.
Fairly early on we found that a seat fitted over the toilet made sitting and standing much more easy.
completecareshop.co.uk/toil...
We also got rails fitted by the toilet to help standing and sitting.
Good quality suction grips work well if you have tiles in that area. I would stress the good quality here. Re-set them once a week and test them for grip daily.
nrshealthcare.co.uk/bathroo...
Screwed through into the wall rails work too, of course.
These worked well for us.
Best to you.
Kevin
Hi Kerry
My brain is working slowly today.
If you go for a raised toilet seat you don't want one where his feet can't touch the floor, or where he has to sit forward to get his feet on the floor.
These seat raisers come in different heights.
If you measure from the floor to the back of his leg where they bend and subtract the height of the current toilet seat to the floor you will get an idea of how much seat raising you need to do. A would add 50cm to that figure.
You could experiment by shutting the lid and adding things on top to find out how much you want to raise the height. (Add the height of the lid to your sum).
I do hope this helps a bit.
Best to you both
I tried this with Larry but it didn’t work for him. It fits over the toilet and the height is adjustable.
walmart.com/ip/Drive-Medica...
It can be used up against a wall for support in the bedroom as well although cleanup would be problematic.
No personal experience here, but a woman in our local Parkinson's/PSP group whose husband has likely PSP said that she paid herself for the toilet seat riser one, that only gives about 6". She said it was the best $1600 she's spent.
Thanks
We had a toilet seat riser supplied free if you are in UK. It was adjustable - Chris had long legs. Couldn't have managed without it.
The bigger problem was that he would " freeze " hovering above it whilst I tried to stay calm and help him sit in time. Usually too late !!!
xxx
I love that, him suspended in midair as my lower back is not happy at all. I do wonder how woman do it. I have upper body strength.
I was always worried about my back.
Looking back I wonder how I managed. He was 6 ft. 1. and I am 80
Broke toilets and cisterns, mind !!!!
xxx
I am always talking about sheets!!!! I have cut some old queen size sheets into thirds folded them and tied a knot(or not) at the ends. I wrap the wide comfy sheet around him and support his body like reins on a horse🙂. I need to walk with my huz at the walker. I also support him when he sits or gets up. We haven't been to the ER in 8 months or more!!!!!
My husband is a plumber and tall so we also have a tall toilet- It doesn't really help with the crashing down - we have replaced a few lids and one toilet so far!?!?😐
We now use the wheeled commode seat which has arm rests and fits over a standard height toilet bowl with the seat up (take the pot out first)! The foot rest ensures that there are no height problems. Hope this helps. Rob
Thanks Rob it certainly does help.
oh oh .. this is a good idea!!
Definitely get the OT in to look at this. Mum in her old house had a raised toilet seat which worked but was difficult to keep clean so when she moved closer to me I had the bathroom redone and had a wall hung toilet put in at a slightly higher level, so no need for the raised seat, this has worked well but as Mum's mobility gets worse it means we won't be able to use a glide commode over the toilet as the toilet is too high for it to fit over ! We also have a frame fitted (screwed into the floor) round the toilet which really helps with lowering & getting up, though I still need to guide and support so she doesn't suddenly drop back and hit her back against the loo lid and then a grab rail on the wall for Mum to hold onto whilst pulling knicks etc back up.
I agree about the OT. The one we had was amazing! I also can relate to having to tell my husband to hold onto the grab bars and where to put his hands every trip to the bathroom. Failing to do this resulted in a fall every time because he would forget. Falling anywhere near the toilet is never a pleasant experience. When I broke my back we had the OT out and she recommended a stand assist device which we used from then on. It allowed me to continue to care for him for another four months before he finally went into assisted living. We tried a riser on our toilet, but finally opted for a taller toilet. It just seemed to work better all around. I hope whatever you choose works for you.
Ben had a raised toilet seat and I would wheel his U-Step Walker to aid him getting up from the toilet. He then used the wheel over commode chair that was very successful.
Love Kate xx
We have the raised toilet that has handles on the side where he can raise and lower himself. I also got a pee bottle. He can just stand and use that, dump it in the toilet and rinse it out. Much easier that trying to hit the toliet.
For his bowel movements I now have to wipe him because of his loosing ability to do so with his hands. Love, Nancy
Thanks. My husband is at the stage where he needs help with his clothes; getting him in the right position to sit down and wiping. I started getting him to sit ages ago so it became familiar because his aim was terrible. He can basically only use one hand properly so all of it is difficult for him. It so hard to know what is best for him but thanks for the input Nancy
Toilet time
Please Advise- will not sit on the toilet
Toileting Aide
