Bathroom Needs

[OGD]

Hi everyone....
I am t6.. and less than 8 months I am getting married.. Currently I am using a chair that I can roll over the toilet, but I don't want this system when I get married.. I just want something simple. not a complete chair.....
Any recomenditions..?
thanks

Age: 23, Male, T-6, Student

[SCI-Nurse]

How are your transfers? Have you ever used something like a raised toilet seat? Do you have grab bars in you bathroom? On the toilet? I am assuming you need something that will give you easy access for bowel care. Do you also cath on the toilet or in your chair? What do you use or need to use for bathing? With a little more info we might be able to make more recommendations that meet your needs.

(KLD)

[teesieme]

Hi Beos. Congrats on your upcoming marriage. I would suggest raising the toilet from the floor, a toilet raiser. Safe and worth the cost. I have seen them available online and at stores like Menards I think it was. And if you know someone who welds, they could make you some rails/safety bars at a reasonable cost to go along each side as we did in our house...as long as they are installed correctly & safely bolted and if there is room enough to transfer over to~ this system works great here at home!

[OGD]

Thanks for the responses,
I have never used a reaised toilet seat.. It seems like the best idea.... But how about the frames.. I am going to rent an apartment, so there is a chance that I won't be able to install bars aroun the restroom.. So how am I going to make my transfers to the raised seat? (my transfers are ok.) and I cath in my chair..
thanks

Age: 23, Male, T-6, Student

[~Patrick~]

They have to allow you grab bars. Its nothing a little caulk wont fix. $165 you can get a complete toilet set from Lowes (http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=212568-834-3600000.020) then you wont need the plastic raised seat.

[teesieme]

As Patrick wrote: complete ADA toilet is a great idea other than the floor to bottom of the toilet raiser~

Question/Opinion: Are raised toilet seats actually stable? As when I viewed some of them, I didn't see how it would be so.

As for the apartment, there are ADA rules and if otherwise, it could only improve the apartments value, etc. by having them if they are properly installed and of good quality, right?

[Andy]

I have a cheaper easier idea, works great for me and I'm T6 also. Get a Lumex raised padded toilet seat, it works with any toilet (and mount it sideways of course). Adjust it so it lifts off while still having a good fit on the rim of the toilet. Then others can use the same toilet, total cost roughly $90.00 depending on where you buy it from. Then head over to Home Depot and for about $30.00 get a grab bar and screw it to the wall next to the toilet (I am assuming the can is next to a wall here). Done deal, no fuss, no muss.

[SCI-Nurse]

If you can leave it on all the time, and get someone to really screw it down for you, the Lumex raised toilet seat is very stable. I you remove the "spray skirt" (4 small screws) you can have open access for bowel care. The opening can be put in the front, back or either side. Be sure to order specifically for either an oval or round toilet bowl.

This can be combined with a Versiframe (pictured here). You can use both grab bars or (for easier transfers) just one. They can also swing up out of the way.

You can get these both at Spinlife.com (http://www.sportaid.com/catalog/page62.shtml)

(KLD)

[SCI-Nurse]

This should be moved over to the new Equipment forum.

(KLD)

[duge]

I just had a new toilet put in 2 day's ago it's a handicapped one. It sits up 3 " higher and has a longer lid so my tailbone does not sit right on it
will let you know after a while how it works out
Duge

T-12 incomplete 10-3-02

[Broknwing]

If you are renting an apartment, check into accessable apartments. A lot of newer complexes have them already set up & some even give discounts for the adapted apartments. I had one a couple years ago & the complex was great about it. There was a designated spot right outside my building entrance, there were handrails in the bathroom, a raised toilet, rails in the tub, a wall mount sink that a chair could get under & the faucets still reachable(not one of those extra deep sinks that you can't actually reach the faucet) & wider doors to accomodate a chair. It also had lowered counters in the kitchen & smooth transitions between doorways & floors.

This was before my accident, so I didn't need these for myself, but my bro is also disabled & the features came in really well for his care when my family came to visit me. Being short, I also found the lowered counters helpful.

Congrats on your marriage & good luck with your new home.

'Chelle
L-1 inc 11/24/03

[SCI-Nurse]

BrokenWing, due to where you live with so many elderly people this type of housing may be more available. I know in my area it is rare as hen's teeth, and if found, is usually too expensive, has a long waiting list, or is otherwise unavailable. I can't think of a single recent injury client of ours who has been able to move into a fully adapted apartment in the last 5-6 years. Sad but true.

(KLD)

[Emi2]

Originally posted by SCI-Nurse:

BrokenWing, due to where you live with so many elderly people this type of housing may be more available. I know in my area it is rare as hen's teeth, and if found, is usually too expensive, has a long waiting list, or is otherwise unavailable. I can't think of a single recent injury client of ours who has been able to move into a fully adapted apartment in the last 5-6 years. Sad but true.

(KLD)

Yeah, and most of the ones I wanted were in 55+ buildings. I moved into a semi-adapted one, actually it was better than my house is now despite 180,000 in modifications.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow"
~ Anon

[Broknwing]

Actually Nurse, I live in the highly toursit-y section of Orlando & the bulk of the apartment dwellers are in my age range or a little younger. It's a large part Theme Park or Lockheed Martin employees that rent apartments in this area. Not to say that there aren't retirees & an older crowd, but not in the area of town I lived in. The traffic alone could cause a heart-attack http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif The apartment complexes are definatley designed for & marketed to the younger professional crowd.

Yes, I understand that most complexes don't have this kind of adaptation, but with some searching, especially of newer complexes, he may be able to find something that will work for him, or a complex that's willing to adapt an apartment for him.

'Chelle
L-1 inc 11/24/03

[joshstevens7]

hey man, im same as you, T6, and here is the seat that me and my dad came up with, its also portable and sits right on the regular toilet seat.
http://carecure.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7814

Josh S.