Seniors know about the problems associated with going to the toilet every day. It is difficult to get up from low toilets. For them one is suitable Raised toilet seat.
What is a raised toilet seat?
The raised toilet seat is attached to the toilet seat so that seniors and people with hip problems have fewer problems sitting down and standing up. They are used for longer independent use of your own four walls.
Depending on the model, the raised toilet seat can be attached, put on or firmly mounted on the toilet bowl. It is important that the person's feet can still touch the floor while sitting. The attachment can also be done very quickly, even without great manual skill. Alternatively, the employees from the medical supply store can carry out the assembly.
The raised toilet seat is suitable for elderly people, people with hip problems, but also very tall people for whom conventional toilets are too low.
Shapes, types & types
A large selection of raised toilet seats is available in stores. These can be provided with their own lid or with armrests for additional support. In the case of a raised toilet seat, the hygiene cut-out should be large enough to enable frail people to use it.
There are also special stand-up aids, some of which are driven by a motor. The armrests can be folded down when sitting on the toilet, which guarantees easy access to the toilet. They serve as a support when getting up, so that people of old age no longer have a problem with going to the toilet.
Most raised toilet seats have non-slip surfaces. These offer the user even more security because they cannot slip off the seat. There are also raised toilet seats made of a very soft, comfortable material. These are particularly suitable for patients who have to lie in bed for a long time and run the risk of suffering from pressure ulcers. This damage to the skin can make going to the toilet and sitting on hard toilet seats a painful ordeal.
Overweight people can also find the right raised toilet seat in stores. Special variants even appeal to people weighing more than 200 kilograms. The dimensions are chosen to be particularly butt-friendly.
Furthermore, the raised toilet seat can be used as a free-standing variant. This can be easily moved so that it can be used in different bathrooms.
Structure & functionality
The raised toilet seat is constructed like a classic toilet seat. However, it is usually attached to the actual toilet bowl with plastic wing nuts. The attachment must be extremely stable, which is why not every model is suitable. Some models on the market have unstable mounting materials. This can cause them to loosen if the person sitting on them moves uncontrollably.
Very simple models are made from 100 percent plastic. They are attached to the toilet bowl with plastic brackets or clamps or plastic wing nuts. Models with aluminum fixings or clamps and brackets made of other metals offer a more stable attachment. The versions with a lid replace the actual toilet lid so that it can be removed.
In the case of raised toilet seats with armrests, these should be designed in such a way that they can be folded up and down. By folding it down while sitting, patients who find it difficult to hold on to the toilet are more secure. In addition, you can use the armrests as a support for getting up. This means that there is no need for additional handles in the immediate vicinity of the toilet. However, there must be enough space around the toilet for the armrests.
It should also be taken into account that not every model fits every toilet. The specialist from the medical supply store should therefore check which raised toilet seat is suitable.
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➔ Medicines against memory disorders and forgetfulnessMedical & health benefits
The health benefits of the raised toilet seat are undisputed: if the users do not have enough strength to stand up from a deep crouch on their own, the raised toilet seat is wonderfully suitable for not having to use as much leg strength. By slightly inclining the actual seat, getting up and sitting down is made even easier. In addition, there is a psychological advantage, as the patients can use the toilet independently and without outside help for longer.
The special pads made of soft PU foam enable even patients with pressure ulcers to use the toilet without pain. Anti-slip coatings on the individual models ensure greater safety for people who have problems sitting safely on the toilet. The risk of injury from slipping off the toilet seat is reduced. The effect is enhanced by armrests that provide a secure hold.
A particularly large hygiene cutout at the front and back makes it possible to implement hygiene automatically after using the toilet. Since most models are easy to remove and have a low weight, cleaning is also easy. There are also variants that are provided with antibacterial coatings. They are particularly suitable for people with a weakened immune system.
The costs vary. Patients have to plan between 20 and 200 euros for the purchase. However, if you ask the doctor, you will often be prescribed a raised toilet seat. Then only the usual co-payments for prescribed aids and remedies are due.
The model can be ideally adapted to the individual patient thanks to the different construction heights. It is good to test the optimal height yourself before buying. For this it is enough to put a couple of books on the toilet lid to determine the height. A trained look from a specialist can still do no harm. Elevations of three, five, ten or even 14 centimeters are common.
