Going to the bathroom is easy right? Not for everyone. It takes time for us to learn to use the toilet when we’re young.
We master the process, then as we age something frustrating happens. Using the bathroom becomes a challenge.
As we become seniors (elderly) we begin to lose strength in our legs. The challenges are magnified if there are injuries or surgeries. Knee replacement and hip replacement are common for elderly persons and it makes it hard to use the toilet.
Most toilets aren’t high off the ground. This can make sitting and standing difficult. Furthermore, most toilets don’t have poles or support to assist in standing up.
In this article we’ll explore what to look for when looking for the best toilet for elderly. We’ll discuss why raised toilet seats can be a great addition to the bathroom and we’ll review the best toilets for elderly.
Let’s get started.
Best Toilet For Elderly: What To Look For
There are a few things you’ll want to look for when buying the best toilet for elderly. First you’ll want to do a self-assessment. The assessment should include but not be limited to:
- Age
- Strength
- Former surgeries
- Upcoming surgeries
- Weight
- Health level
If you or your loved one is struggling with their health think about how they are currently doing and how they will be doing in the future. Do you anticipated problems with standing, sitting, and positioning on the toilet?
You’ll also need to consider your current bathroom. The assessment of your bathroom should include:
- Toilet size and height (can the toilet accommodate an elevated toilet seat?)
- Toilet age (need to be replaced?)
- Toilet design
- Space around the toilet and bathroom (can you add hand rails?)
Are you able to replace a toilet? If so do you have space to do-so. How about adding a support rail on the side. If the toilet is in poor condition you might want to replace the entire thing. If it’s a newer toilet you might only need a toilet raiser or support rails.
Challenges For Elderly and Using The Bathroom
So, why does using the toilet become challenging when you become older. Around the age of 40 muscle mass in men slowly begins to deteriorate.
By the time you’re 60 or 70 you’ve lost a lot of muscle in your body. This makes doing routine tasks like standing, sitting, and lifting more difficult.
One of the most noticeable problems related to strength is pushing the brake on a vehicle (you might attribute it to a slower reaction time but it’s also because muscle isn’t as strong).
Anticipating this reduction in strength is key.
Surgery is also another reason elderly people should get a special toilet. Foot surgery, knee surgery (including knee replacement), and hip surgery (hip replacement) are all issues that will affect standing, sitting, and squatting.
If you’re anticipating a surgery or have had one you want to consider a raised toilet with handrails.
Why Raised Toilet Seats Are Good For Weak Legs
So, why are raised toilet seats good and why are they better than a standard toilet?
Traditional toilets sit low. It’s actually a more natural way of going the bathroom – it would be even more natural if we were squatting lower. But as we become elderly our legs fail us.
Having a higher toilet will help reduce weight on our legs and make sitting and standing easier. Many of raised toilets include the hand rails too.
Our arms can really give us the extra push to stand up and having a place to put our hands is very helpful for balance and power. In our review below we’ll share toilet raisers and toilet safety rails
Best Toilets For Elderly, Raised Toilet Seats, And Handrails
As you get older you may think that buying a special toilet is the best option. Sure you can buy a new toilet, but inventors are more creative than that.
Rather than go through the trouble of removing a toilet, why not just attach a piece to your toilet that makes it taller?
Toilet raisers will save you the hassle of removing your toilet and save you money. It’s a simple invention and works great for elderly who have trouble sitting and standing from a low position.
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Raised Toilet Seat Riser by Vive – Hinged Seat Lifter for Elderly
The raised toilet seat for seniors is a great idea. Vive is well known for making them and customers love the toilet raiser because it’s easy to install and affordable.
This toilet seat raiser for elderly adds 3.5 inches of height to your existing toilet. 3.5 inches may not seem like a lot but you’ll notice once you sit and try to stand.
How does it install
The Vive toilet seat riser installs under your toilet seat so the comfort of your existing toilet won’t change. You’ll even have the same toilet lid on top. It doesn’t require tools and it comes with screws and washers that fit any toilet. The device is polyurethane and supports up to 350 lbs.
The toilet raiser is white and should match most toilets (since most are white). Because it’s hinged the seat isn’t easily removable for each person using the toilet.
But you don’t have to be elderly or senior to use the toilet raiser. Kids and adults will adjust to the height of the toilet easily. The only issue might be for very young kids who have difficulty getting up on the toilet.
Most customers mention that it helped elderly and seniors with bad knees. For some people it allowed them the independence to use the toilet unassisted.
Tips from customers include 1) make sure it’s installed properly or else it will slide and 2) if you have problems call customer service because they are extremely helpful.
Vivo sells a quality product and it’s guaranteed with a 60 day money back offer upon purchase.
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Toilet Seat Raiser with Handles – Vive
Vive makes another options for toilets and this is my favorite. One of the biggest complaints I hear with elderly is “there is no place to put your hands when standing up”.
In most instances we use our arms to help us stand, but if you don’t have a cane near the bathroom you’ll require a lot of leg strength to get up.
Vive created a helpful toilet seat that is not only a raiser, but has handles that attach to the toilet. There’s no need to attach safety bars to the wall, the handles fit inside the toilet raiser. Ingenious design!
It’s a tool free design so installation will be easy. It fits under your existing seat and toilet lid. The toilet raiser and handles are made with corrosion resistant aluminum. It comes with:
- Extra long screws
- 2 round plastic washers
- 2 round metal washers
- 2 butterfly nuts
- A manual
The grips are soft and comfortable and support up to 300 lbs for big guys. Double check your toilet to see if it’s standard or elongated.
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Medline Guardian Bedside Commode
Maybe you’re looking for a taller toilet that can be kept near the bed. If so, here’s an option from Medline.
It includes adjustable legs that can be fit to your liking – up to 48 inches tall. It also folds down and can be stored easily in a closet.
This toilet doesn’t attach to plumbing so the bin will need to be cleaned and emptied on a regular basis. If you have trouble getting to the toilet at night or are bed ridden while recovering from surgery this is a good option.
Highlights:
- Portable
- Folds down for storage in closet
- Adjustable height
- Handles
- Works good next to bed
- Bin needs to be emptied regularly
Customers like that it’s a durable frame and toilet but also lightweight and easy to store in a closet. Other customers were pleasantly surprised because they thought it didn’t look comfortable.
If you don’t want to modify your toilet in the bathroom but need something convenient this is a well-reviewed and well-liked toilet!
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Removable Raised Toilet Seat – Vive
So far we’ve mentioned 2 toilet seat raisers (install) and one portable toilet seat with an adjustable height. This raised toilet seat fits on your existing toilet but doesn’t need to be screwed in. It’s removable so elderly people can use it then remove and store under the sink.
This toilet raiser is 5 inches which is larger than other options we’ve mentioned. It attaches to the toilet with a knob that twists and secures the device.
The handles are very helpful for easing your way down on the toilet and standing up. The extra support will be convenient for seniors and elderly and the best part of this raiser is it’s easily removable.
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Toilet Handrail for Elderly or Seniors – Vive
If you want to sidestep the raised toilet but just want some help getting up and down from the pot then these handles will help a lot.
Similar to Vive’s other products these handles don’t require much installation. You’ll just need to adjust the fixtures you currently have on your toilet.
The handles attach to the back of the toilet and offer a secure place to use your arms as you sit down and stand up.
Check to make sure you have enough room on the sides of your toilet to accommodate the handles. These handles are narrow enough to fit even the smallest bathrooms – but always make sure.
And, it doesn’t matter whether you have a standard or elongated toilet because they are adjustable.
I like Vive’s handles because of the larger non-slip grips on the bottom of the handle and the soft padding for your hands. The handles are also helpful when standing and urinating. One hand can hold the handle for balance.
Customers like the handles and mention they are strong and sturdy. One customer mentioned they used a bungee cord to keep the handles from bending outward – reduced wobbling..
These have a lifetime guarantee so it’s a no worry purchase!
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Medline Toilet Safety Rails – Handrail For Elderly
With over 1,000 reviews these are a hot item! The handles attach to your existing toilet with no additional tools required.
The armrests are foam, providing a firm comfortable grip and the bottom of the handrails have a rubber tip that will stay firmly on the floor.
You’ll need a few extra inches on the sides of your toilet to fit these handrails (most bathrooms will have adequate space).
Customers like the simple yet sturdy design and they say it works for people with foot injuries, people who’ve had surgeries, and people who are elderly.
The height is adjustable to accommodate short and taller people (26-31 inches)
Conclusion
Using the bathroom isn’t always easy. We learn as young kids, then have trouble as we become seniors or elderly. Injuries and complex surgeries can make matters worse and make sitting on a toilet painful.
As someone who’s had injuries to their leg I understand how hard it can be to stand up from a toilet. I’ve looked around the bathroom for extra help and it’s always hard to find a place for your arms.
In this article we discussed the best toilets for elderly and shared the best toilet raiser and best toilet handrails. Thankfully, you won’t have to buy a special toilet. It’s much easier to adapt your toilet using a 3-5 inch raiser.
Although it doesn’t seem like much, 3-5 inches will make sitting and standing on a toilet much easier than squatting all the way down.
Some of the toilet raisers we mentioned even have handrails that make using the toilet much easier – and they are easy to install.
Vive has separated itself from the pack as a reliable and trusted company. Their products, reviews, and guarantee speak volumes. Medline is another well-liked company with great reviews.
We hope you found this article helpful and you found the best toilet for elderly and seniors. Whether it’s a toilet raiser or another type of toilet we’ve got the information you need to make a buying decision. Thanks for stopping by!
