Homepro Medical Supplies

The bathroom may not seem like a dangerous place at first glance. However, once you take a closer look at the bathroom, the dangers may become more apparent: the slick surfaces, sharp corners and hard floors of a bathroom suddenly seem a little more daunting, don’t they?

For millions of seniors across the United States, the bathroom has become a place to fear. Combine the above risks with the movements and shifts in weight that go on in the bathroom, and you get a very dangerous environment. One major spot in the bathroom that causes issues is the toilet. 

Toilet Safety Issues

Why is the toilet so unsafe? For starters, the movement required to sit down and stand up from the toilet requires balance. Many people lose their balance as they get older, so a movement that requires a good amount of balance — like getting on or off the toilet — becomes harder.

Certain medications can also affect balance and depth perception, adding to the danger involved with using the toilet. Standing up and sitting down also requires you to shift your weight, which can lead to a loss of balance.

So how do you keep yourself or your aging parent safe when using the toilet?

Three Ways to Enhance Safety when Using the Toilet

Luckily, there three easy ways to ensure you or your parents are safe when using the toilet:

• Commodes
• Raised Toilet Seats
• Toilet Safety Frames

Commodes 

A commode looks like a toilet seat that has armrests on both sides and four legs for support, and come in drop arm, wheeled, padded and non-padded models. Most often commodes are used in a bedroom as a way for those with limited mobility to use the bathroom without leaving the bedroom.

However, they can also be used in the bathroom as support for when you get onto or off of the toilet. Adjustable models are able to be set high enough to allow for easy up and down motion that is safer than going to the bathroom with no support. Drop-arm commodes are great for transfers much easier and safer.

Raised Toilet Seats 

Raised toilet seats help decrease the danger of sitting down on the toilet because they allow you to sit higher. Many people do not have the balance and flexibility needed to sit down on a standard height toilet safely.

Raised toilet seats are also great for those who have just had a surgical procedure, such as hip surgery, performed as they don’t require as much bending. Many models also have arms or handles on the side for more assistance. By decreasing the amount of distance needed to travel to be in a seated position, raised toilet seats make going to the bathroom a lot safer.

Toilet Safety Frames 

This is another product that can greatly improve toilet safety. Toilet safety frames either attach to your toilet or stand alone, and feature padded armrests for added stability when getting on or off the toilet. These are great for those who still have the flexibility to reach a standard height toilet, and can also be used in combination with a raised toilet seat (without arms of course).

At Homepro Medical Supplies, we believe no one should be afraid to use the bathroom. With the proper equipment in place, such as a commode, raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame, you can greatly improve the safety of your toilet or the toilet of an aging parent.

Get in touch with Homepro Medical Supplies today to see how we can help make toilet safety a priority today.