The most modified room in the house is also the one that insurance will help with the least, or not at all. I am talking of course about the bathroom. There are so many aids available that go unrecognized or unnoticed for a variety of reasons. One, of course, is the idea that “one does not discuss this in polite company”. So I hope that you do not mind if I break that Miss Manners guideline!
I would also like to mention that we need to plan for the “least aware, least safe, least coordinated” time of day for the person you are modifying for. This is usually between 2- and 4 AM when someone gets up to got to the bathroom. The bathroom is where the majority of falls and injuries happen in the home for people aged over 50. So, let’s discuss some ways to prevent that from happening!
Read the earlier articles on bathroom safety here and here if you missed them earlier. I will reiterate here that the suction cup grab bars are very unsafe to use.
Another really good and affordable modification that can be made is a toilet riser, or commode. Both of these will make it easier to stand up off of the toilet. If you have a back injury or a shoulder injury/surgery abdominal surgery, or any other situation that makes it difficult to stand up, it is easier to stand when you are higher up to begin with.
Toilet seat risers that fasten to the toilet are the safest.
They come with elongated bolts that pass through the seat and through the riser to secure everything to the stool itself. There are several heights available, it is surprising how even a couple of inches will make a large difference. It is best to keep the person’s feet on the floor, for safety of course but also for ease of completing all aspects of the job this appliance is made for . . . . including the paperwork.
Sometimes the person just needs a little bit of added safety when standing up or the first few moments after getting stood and managing their clothing. If there is no wall to put an advantageous grab bar on, there is a way to put something like arm rests on the toilet – a lot of the time they are called toilet safety rails. There are several varieties to add security. It is essential to make sure that they are secure, no wobble with use, and that they are the right height, also extend enough in front of the stool to be helpful. They have some that bolt to the stool, and they have models that are free standing. I have no strong preference because your environment dictates what is best for you.
This model is freestanding and adjustable, will not need to mount to anything, it is also portable if need be. In the facility I work at presently, they allow personal equipment to come in for the duration of the person’s rehab. It is obviously safety checked first, but the comfort for the person to have the familiarity of personal equipment with them and this is nice for us as well since we are working with equipment that the person will be using at home.
The advantage to this option is that it is bolted to the toilet for security, but not taking up floor space – sometimes at a premium to begin with in bathroom spaces. The disadvantage would be that there is not a lot of overhang on the front of the toilet if that is needed for managing clothing.
A quick word on the paperwork – necessary to call any job complete. There is nothing saying that this needs to be completed while seated. Sometimes it is impossible to remain seated and do an efficient job because of swelling or loss of flexibility. There are advantages to doing this in standing. That being said though, there is a need to ensure there is a secure surface to hold on to while making sure everything is cleaned. Whether this is done alone, or it is a joint task, security is paramount. Often a walker will suffice, but if you are in a position that there is not space for the walker, there are other possibilities to increase safety, these above are just a very small sampling.
Written by Gina Bowden, COTA/L