Learn Why People With Mobility Problems Rely On Devices Such As A Raised Toilet Seat To Maintain Their Independence When Using The Toilet

By Author: Aids 4 Mobility
Total Articles: 14
Comment this article

For most people, it is difficult to comprehend how something as easy and ubiquitous as going to the bathroom, can be a physical challenge, yet for many individuals, using the toilet in its usual form can be extremely difficult.
A combination of general frailty, blood pressure issues, as well as weaker and less flexible joints and muscles can make using the toilet, and even the bath or shower, extremely difficult and many older individuals require assistance in this regard. One solution to assist individuals in staying as independent as they can at home, or at least for as long as possible, is a raised toilet seat.
These are available in a range of shapes and sizes. The most basic toilet aids are those that are simply placed over the current toilet seat to elevate its height. These have the advantage of reducing the distance a person must crouch when sitting on the toilet and making it much easier to rise again. Some models are higher in the back than in the front, to provide more comfort in the sitting position, and to assist users when they get up from the toilet.

Raised toilet seat with armrests

A ...
... standard raised toilet seat is, however, only appropriate if the user has sufficient core and leg strength to rise without arm support. When they do require assistance, a raised toilet seat with armrests is a preferable option.
The Viscount Raised Toilet Seat with Arms, which is available from around £41.10 (with VAT relief) from selected UK providers, is a superb example of this. This raised toilet seat is ideal not only for the elderly but also for individuals who have had an injury and require extra leg comfort since it is designed to raise the height of the toilet seat and provide extra support while sitting down on the toilet seat.

Freestanding toilet seat with frame

If you do not want to use a normal raised toilet seat, another great option is a free-standing toilet frame. This product is designed to fit over the entire toilet and give an elevated seat with armrests and it comes with height-adjustable frames. They also offer significantly greater support, making them a fantastic alternative for those individuals who are larger.

A freestanding, raised toilet seat with frame and bucket, such as the Solo Skandia Free Standing Bariatric Raised Toilet Seat, is available from some UK providers for around £80.45 (with VAT relief).
As with the conventional model, this product has a broader overall design with height-adjustable legs and incorporated arms for stability. Depending on where you shop, it is also available in portable, permanent, floor-mounted installations and free-standing variants.

Reasons why some individuals need bathroom support

As we age, we can develop problems with low blood pressure, which is typically exacerbated when we use the bathroom. The associated strain with constipation can make some individuals feel weak, and in the case of a vasovagal reaction, there is a risk of a drop in blood pressure, so much so that the individual could faint, resulting in possible injury.
The medical term for fainting while using the toilet is known as defecation syncope, and while it may not be as well-known as most other conditions, it still accounts for up to 1% of all toilet injuries and consequent emergency department visits, among the elderly. Rather than fainting itself, most injuries occur as a result of the fall, which is why mobility aid like a raised toilet seat with armrests, for example, can assist those individuals and prevent bathroom injuries.

The bottom line is that no one wants to be in a position where they need to ask for assistance from someone else whenever they need to use the toilet, and these mobility aids can help those with mobility issues and other health problems, to safely use the toilet and maintain their independence for as long as possible.

About Us:

Aids 4 Mobility was established in 2010 and are an approved supplier to Lancashire County Council, St Helens Council, and the NHS. They are one of the UK’s leading suppliers for the best mobility devices and equipment for the disabled and elderly. The company stocks a range of mobility products like mobility ramps, bathroom aids, wheelchairs and accessories, bedroom aids and much more. Aids 4 Mobility has an online shop, meaning products can be bought from the supplier over the internet, but they also have a mail order catalogue available from which products can be ordered. A great place to buy mobility equipment and healthcare products, offering a wide range of healthcare products from leading manufacturers. For more information, please visit https://www.aids4mobility.co.uk/.

Aids 4 Mobility has been established since 2010 and has accumulated many happy customers. They are approved suppliers to Lancashire County Council, St Helens Council and the NHS.Offering a wide range of healthcare products from leading manufacturers. Excellent negotiated prices, enables them to pass on great savings to you, in comparison to your local mobility store. Bathing Aids, Mobility Accessories, Walking Frames, Wheelchairs, Mobility Aids, Toileting aids and much more.