Taking a shower, soaking in the tub, and using the toilet safely and independently are things many people take for granted. But what happens when you have a physical injury or disability that requires extra support to use the bathroom?
During my femur fracture recovery, some of the most helpful mobility aids were the ones in my bathroom. Without them, I would have been entirely dependent on help and wouldn’t have managed more than a bed wash with a wet soapy flanel. My beloved shower- and toilet aids made a safe hygiene routine possible.
Today I’ll be sharing the mobility aids that gave me back a sense of independence, privacy, and dignity on the toilet and in the tub.
Taking a shower
If standing in the shower isn’t an option, a shower chair can provide a safe, seated alternative. The metal chair legs are height-adjustable and include special rubber non-slip grips to prevent sliding across a wet shower floor.
Other mobility aids for in the shower include:
Washing in the bath
Climbing into a bathtub can be difficult or impossible if you have limited mobility. For many people (like myself) a bath board is a great aid to shower in the tub. This sturdy plastic seat allows you to sit “on” the bath while you use use a handheld showerhead.
Some bath boards are held in place with suction cups; mine had knobs underneath that meant the board could be adjusted to the width of the tub. In my experience this type of bath board stayed in place much better (and safer) than one with suction, as the suction cups don’t always provide enough grip.
Other mobility aids for the bath include:
Using the toilet
Like washing, using the toilet safely and independently can be a challenge if you have limited mobility. Thankfully a toilet aid can give added support and stability. The chair can be placed over a standard toilet and provides a raised toilet seat and built-in grab rails.
Other mobility aids for the toilet include:
Some final tips on bathroom mobility aids
- While you can buy bathroom mobility aids, you can also often rent them. In the Netherlands, for example, a variety of (bathroom) mobility aids can be rented through Medipoint.
- If your bathroom does not meet accessibility needs and you’d like a temporary solution, find out where you can rent a portable accessible bathroom. In the Netherlands, they are offered by companies like Zorgdouche and ShowerRent. This is a particularly useful solution if you’re in need of a temporary ground floor bathroom.
What are your favourite bathroom mobility aids? Let me know in the comments below!
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