Care Professional | 15 Comments |
Assisted Toileting
Assisted toileting products facilitate independence and privacy in the toilet, and can assist with toileting where the individual is unable to manage unaided.
Click the links below to go straight to more information on:
Automatic shower toilets
Toilet bidet adaptations
Toilet plinths, seat risers and supports
Comfort and pressure relief
Commode chairs
Doc M Packs
Changing Places
Automatic shower toilets – Ultimate assisted toileting
The ultimate solution to independence in the toilet for many disabled people is the automatic shower toilet, which combines a toilet, bidet and warm air drying in one unit. In this way, no manual intervention is required.
There is a range of accessories and options that make these units even more responsive to different needs, for example: height-raising plinths; no-touch and remote controls; a strengthened seat for sideways transfers from a wheelchair; octopus support arms; back bar operation; padded seats for pressure relief.
One of the most recent accessible toileting developments is an adjustable height shower toilet, which has been designed particularly for multi-user situations, as it can be easily adjusted to suit people with differing height requirements. The integral support arms can be moved up out of the way for a sideways transfer from a wheelchair, and they move up and down with the rest of the unit so that their relative position is maintained.
These are all, of course, specialist units which require qualified installation and commissioning.
Toilet bidet adaptations
The alternative to a dedicated shower toilet unit as above, is to fit an add-on bidet unit to an existing toilet, such as PDS Hygiene’s WRAS-approved Bio Bidet toilet seat, shown here.
This retrofit toileting option is much cheaper, and can be installed by any competent plumber or even DIYer.
The range of bidet seats now available provide all the features associated with a dedicated shower toilet. By combining the bidet and toilet in a single unit, you save the need for a transfer from one to the other, and also save space, which is often limited in a bathroom. Remote control units, supplied with top of the range bidet seats, enable more people with limited mobility and dexterity to use the toilet in privacy.
Another possibility is a handheld portable bidet unit. Operated using a built-in rechargeable battery with USB charger, the reservoir is simply filled with water at the temperature required, and activated by a comfortable soft button. It doesn’t include a warm air drying function, though.
Toilet plinths and supports
Raising the height of a toilet can make it much easier to use independently. There are various ways to achieve this. If you are installing a new toilet, make sure that you opt for a higher toilet pan. On an existing toilet, a neat plinth which fits between the floor and the pedestal can raise the height permanently in a discreet manner. The plinth shown here provides an extra four inches of height, ideal for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility in hips or knees. Alternatively, a raised toilet seat can give extra height of between two and six inches, depending on the model selected.
Alternatively, a support frame, such as the one shown on the left, can give firm toileting support as the user moves from standing to sitting position and up again. This portable unit is particularly well designed, employing the weight of the user on the foot plates to increase its stability, without the need for any permanent wall or floor fixings.
For users who need assisted toileting with more help than can be provided with raised seats and support frames, a powered toilet raiser could be the answer.
There are various models offering differing degrees of assistance. Some just tilt the seat forwards, to give a gentle boost to the user as they attempt to rise; while others also rise and lower in height, so that anyone who is unable to bend unaided at the hip or knee can be supported from and back to standing height.
Toilet raisers are powered by either mains electricity or rechargeable batteries.
The one on the right has controls built into both armrests, and can also be operated by remote control if necessary.
Comfort and pressure relief
Pressure damage currently costs the health service more than heart disease. Most of it is preventable with the right pressure care regime.
Chronic digestive conditions can entail extended periods seated on the toilet, and it is good practice to extend the pressure relief management to this area, for those patients who require it.
This sturdy inflatable rubber toilet seat eases pressure effectively, and can be fixed and removed as required.
Commode chairs
Mobile shower/commode chairs are useful for moving from bed to bathroom, shower or toilet.
Provided that the commode chair has a wide enough space between its wheels, it can be positioned over the toilet, saving the need for a transfer. Alternatively, with the use of a removable pan, it can be used as a self-contained commode unit.
A sturdily built static commode chair can also do duty as a removable toilet support frame, with the pan removed.
Some are designed to be stackable, to save storage space.
Look out for features such as corrosion resistance, anti-bacterial protection, and designs that are easy to keep clean.
With the general increase in obesity, there are now commodes available designed particularly to meet the needs of heavier users. You can see more in our specialist bariatric section.
Please note that we also have a general continence section, which you can access here.
Doc M Packs
Doc M packs are put together by some bathroom suppliers, as a convenient way of providing the necessary products for an accessible toilet or cloakroom facility. Doc M refers to the part of the Building Regulations (Document M) which deals with accessibility for disabled users.
The pack may contain only the grab rails and supports required for accessibility, or – like the toilet pack shown here – may include all elements: comfortable height toilet; easy flush cistern; wash basin with lever taps; as well as the grab rails and hinged supports.
Changing Places
The Changing Places campaign, run by the Changing Places consortium which includes PAMIS and Mencap, is probably the most important initiative in the disability access field for the last 20 years. By focusing on provision of fully accessible public toilets, it supports the rights of people with profound and multiple learning and/or other physical disabilities, to access their community. Without such assisted toileting facilities, people may be restricted to their own homes, or face the indignity of being changed on the toilet floor.
Changing Places facilities provide more space (ideally 3 metres x 4 metres) than a normal accessible toilet, so that there is adequate room for all the extra equipment required and space for two carers to help the user.
The extra toileting equipment expected in these facilities includes:
1. Overhead room coverage hoist systems
2. Height adjustable changing benches
3. Height adjustable wash hand basins
4. Showering facilities
5. Peninsular toilets
6. Privacy screen
We have a section of Independent Living dedicated to the campaign for Changing Places, where you can read a lot more!
15 Replies to “Assisted Toileting”
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Hello have a profoundly disabled son of almost 20. He needs to sit down to pee and has a raised toilet seat provided by OT services. Problem is he keeps peeing either over the seat or through the gap between the raised toilet seat and the actual toilet. We have tried pee guards but these just get in the way or either fall off.
Is there a toilet designed for this type of issue?
We need something like the type of moulded potty that you can get for a baby boy but in an adult sized toilet version.
Hi Helen,
I am sorry to hear about the struggle you and your son have to go through. I could imagine how difficult the situation is.
In regards to your question, we suggest getting in contact directly with the suppliers listed in the righthand sidebar. It’s the best way to get more information about assisted toileting that could help solve your son’s peeing problem. I am sure they will be pleased to assist you.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else you want to ask.
Best wishes,
Liane
Hi im inquiry is about my father is coming hone soon an I think the down stair room is wot he’s going to need after having a large stroke an I think he’s going to need a whole room fitted with this aquitment where do I start to get all this fitted from bed to toilet to shower to wheelchair because he has no movement on left side an cant mover walk nothing so wondering where to start thanks
Hello Lisa
You can start by contacting the local social services department, and ask them for a care needs assessment for your father. An occupational therapist or similar will visit your father at home to see what equipment and/or adaptations are required.
He may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to help fund the changes – there is more information on this page:
https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/disabled-facilities-grants/
Best wishes,
Frances
At the moment, I use a toilet seat riser, as I have osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s. At home I also have a frame.
When I am on holiday, I take the seat and the frame. But when I go to lunch, say, at someone’s house, I can manage without the frame, but I take the raised seat with me.
So I can manage if I am caught short, but we arrive at someone’s front door with a huge bag with the seat in it. I would love to find a folding toilet seat, so that I could slip to the toilet with my small, discreet bag and no-one would be any the wiser.
Any one I have asked about this tries to sell me a folding frame, but it is a folding raised toilet seat I would love.
There are various camping toilets and toddlers’ training seats on Amazon. The former are sturdy enough to hold an adult’s wait, but can’t be used over a toilet, and the latter fit securely on the actual toilet, but are not deep enough and don’t bear an adult weight.
Have you ever seen such a product? I would be grateful to know if you have seen one.
Hello Maureen
An interesting question, but I am afraid that I have never come across a folding raised toilet seat. A quick Google search has not revealed anything beyond what you have already discovered – products for toddlers and campers, but nothing that fits your needs.
Maybe someone else reading this will have a better answer – or be inspired to create one! You could get in touch with the engineering charity, Remap, who develop one-off solutions where nothing is available commercially. They may be able to help you. This is a link to their website: https://www.remap.org.uk (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Best wishes,
Frances
Is a lever better than a push button for ease of operation for an older person. If so where do you buy a convenience height toilets with a single lever flush from?
Hello Mary
Generally speaking, it is easier to operate a lever or paddle style flush rather than a push button if your manual strength or dexterity are diminished. Comfort height WCs are quite widely available from bathroom retailers and plumbers merchants, with a single lever flush mechanism.
Best wishes,
Frances
Please can you advise the best bidet seat for obese disabled man. My father has arthritis in hands and arms so can’t reach to keep clean but is a very big chap 6xl size. I notice weight limits on a lot of seat . Any advice would be great thank you.
Hello Carolyn
The weight limit for the add-on bidet toilet seat Bio Bidet is 21 stone. This is also approximately the general limit for a standard WC. If your father weighs more than this, Closomat can provide an automated wash and dry toilet designed for bariatric use. You can read more and get in touch with them directly here: https://www.independentliving.co.uk/product-focus/hidden-hygiene-problems-of-obesity/
Best wishes,
Frances
In this article, you have shared with us some of the unique kinds of toilets. There are so many new kinds of toilets with the latest technology that it really becomes very hard to select the right toilet. Thank you for sharing this article with us. I got to know about the various kinds of technologies that are present in toilets from your article. Thank you for sharing this article with us.
hi i have a question i work in home with client that have Friedreich’s ataxia. No longer can sit up can use hands and can walk. her mom thinks putting her on toilet to use is still possible saying something about gravity cause she always constipated. It takes two or three people to put her on there and you have to hold her or she will fall over on her face. I been a caregiver for 15years. is there anything that u can tell me to tell her that its not possible. She even wanted us to use lift but girl dont have control of body… its no su h thing as gravity .. she has a good BM and urinates regular. She tend to always be constipated. Help.
Hello Ashley
Perhaps something can be done about your client’s chronic constipation. Advice from the Ataxia charity is to suggest changes in lifestyle – notably looking at her diet, increasing fluid intake and mobility assistance, if possible. If those changes don’t make enough difference, then laxatives or suppositories are suggested.
Best wishes,
Frances
Interested with static commode chair,where are they available in Kenya?
Hello Cornelius
I’m sorry – I don’t know. This website only has information specific to the UK. But many companies do sell internationally – if you contact a local seller in Kenya, they may be able to help.
Best wishes,
Frances