Tag: grab rails

Toilet Safety for the Elderly – Our Advice

Maintaining independence and dignity is important as we all get older, especially when it comes to using the bathroom. Certain bath and toilet safety aids greatly reduce the risk of accidents and help us to keep our independence for longer. In this article we will take you through some of the most important pieces of advice that our team have to offer.

Raised Toilet Seat with Arms

 

 

1. Raise the Toilet Seat

If you have ever used the disabled room in a public toilet, you have probably noticed that the seat is much higher. The reason for this is that it makes it far easier to sit down and stand up. There’s much less strain and tension on your back, knees, and legs.

The good news is that you don’t have to rush out and spend a fortune to buy a taller toilet to modify your bathroom at home. You can simply purchase a raised toilet seat and attach it securely to the toilet. Some raised toilet seats come fitted with side arms to give you extra support when sitting down or standing up.

2. Install Grab Rails

Another thing that you’ll notice in a disabled toilet are the grab bars. These are often on both sides of the toilet. You can very easily install grab bars at home if there are places to fit them within arms reach of the toilet.

If  you want a more temporary solution you can purchase a stand-alone toilet safety rail. The frame surrounds the toilet and gives you extra support for sitting down and leverage for standing up. Some raised toilet seats can be installed over the toilet for a safety frame as well, something which we particularly recommend.

Drive Bariatric Stamford Grand Combi Scandia

 

3. Use a Commode if Needed

If you can’t make it to the bathroom on your own, a commode offers a huge degree of convenience and can be conveniently used in any room in the house. Heavy duty commodes are also available for bariatric patients.

We hope that this article will help you or a loved one to maintain a sense of independence in the bathroom. With our headquarters in Cork, we are Ireland’s leading provider of high quality and affordable bathroom mobility aids. We would be delighted to assist you in whatever way we can, our team of healthcare professionals will help you to find the product that best fits your needs. We also offer next day FREE DELIVERY on all in stock mobility aids (orders over 50euro) , nationwide. Visit our main store at http://www.osullivansaids.ie

Preventing falls in the bathroom

bathroom

More than one in three people over the age of 65 will experience a fall each year, and research shows that 80% of these falls occur in the bathroom. A combination of hard, wet and slippery surfaces makes the bathroom a particularly hazardous room in the home. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of tips that can help you or a loved one stay safe in the bathroom.

1. Bathtub / Shower : Knowing how to get in and out of tubs and showers properly can greatly reduce falls.

2. Flooring : It’s an obvious thing to say, but a wet floor is particularly treacherous. Thankfully, you can do something about it. Anti-slip mats are an effective and affordable means of providing friction to a floor that has become slippery by water or other common bathroom items.

3. Shower / Bathtub seats : A proven way of preventing falls in the bathroom comes from simply being able to relax. A bathtub or shower stool provides the support to allow you to do just this. Coming in a variety of sizes, they all help you feel comfortable, confident and independent while showering or bathing, free from the anxiety of falling.

4. Grab Rails : These are one of our most popular products, and it’s not difficult to see why. Our grab rails are incredibly easy to install and are an essential in preventing falls in the bathroom. They provide valuable support getting in and out of the bath, and can be positioned beside the toilet to offer support sitting down and getting back up from the toilet seat.

5. Raised Toilet Seat : If you are feeling comfortable, you are much less likely to experience a fall in the bathroom. Our raised toilet seats ensure you safely and confidently use the toilet. By raising the seat by even a few inches for someone with impaired mobility, you can greatly reduce the incidence of bathroom falls.

We would be delighted to talk to you if you have any questions regarding the prevention of falls in the bathroom.