Fall Prevention for Older Adults
Bathroom Safety for Older People
Toilets
Elevated
The standard 15- to 17-inch height of toilet seats creates a problem for many people, especially those with arthritis, hip, knee, or back problems.
Elevating the seat 5 to 7 inches will give better leverage in regaining a standing position.
There are several types of removable and permanently fixed raised toilet seats that can be purchased from supply companies. Two examples are:
- a molded plastic seat (Figure 11) is the simplest way to increase seat height by about 4 inches.
- an adjustable seat (Figure 12) will add 3 to 6 inches of height.
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A more permanent way to raise the toilet is to have a plumber put the stool on a wooden platform made to fit the toilet bowl base (Figure 13).
If building a new bathroom, consider a wall-hung toilet (Figure 14) that can be hung at any height.
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Special Feature
A special unit (portable bidet) for cleaning the perineal area without hands or paper may be attached to any standard toilet bowl (Figure 15). It is an electrically powered unit with a mechanism for spray washing with warm water and drying with a flow of warm air. This promotes independence for persons with very limited hand/arm functions.
