For your hygiene upkeep, you have to be physically fit. Now, seniors suffer from a range of illnesses, owing to which they are rendered unable to perform even simple tasks such as visiting the toilet. That said, they may not be able to maintain personal hygiene well.
Now, to make the task of going to the bathroom easier for the seniors, they can opt for installing bedside commodes near their beds. With such resources, they can conveniently do what they must, without having to travel to the toilet that could be a distance away from their beds. Caregivers can help the patients to and from the bedside commode while giving them the much-needed privacy.
Also, bedside commodes are rated as per their weight capacity; and most of them are adjustable and can be placed over standard toilets.
However, you must consider a few important aspects when selecting bedside commodes for your loved ones.
Features to consider when buying bedside commodes for seniors
Here’s a list of the important considerations during your purchases of bedside commodes for elderly individuals.
What is the weight capacity?
Nearly all bedside commodes are portable and lightweight. Even so, they should be able to bear the weight of the senior persons.
The standard folding commode is deemed to have upper weight limits of around 300 pounds while the entry-level variants can bear weights up to 225 pounds.
Large-sized users who suffer from restricted mobility can avail the option of investing in bariatric bedside commodes, which are also modifiable into heightened toilet seats. The sturdy bariatric commodes can carry weights in the range of 400 to 600 pounds. Though, some models can carry weights that go up to 1000 pounds as well.
Even if you’re small in size, you can opt for the bariatric bedside commodes on account of their stability and robust frames.
What is the gender of the patient?
In standard toilet seats, you have a choice between the long, basic, and round models. The same design guidelines are followed in the case of bedside commodes.
In general, females are compatible with the use of all kinds of toilet seats while male users could find the basic and round ones difficult to use. This is because men may require the extra space that long toilet seats offer.
Are they easy to use?
Bedside commodes are delivered when they’re partially assembled or completely assembled. Also, they are developed such that they are foldable in a compact manner when not in use.
The important joints not only have to be securely locked but also be easily released when needed. More importantly, the bucket size makes for an important consideration. Because in cases of shallow pans, the body waste could splash back or the user could come in direct contact with it. So, you better go for the deeper ones to avoid such problems.
Besides, you must go with buckets that are easily installable and removable. Moreover, you should make sure the other parts do not have sharp ends. Plus, you should choose bedside commodes which you’re able to sanitize via microbial treatments – to keep them germ-free and clean that is.
How versatile are they?
Bedside commodes are meant to offer a secure toilet space within a couple of feet of the patient’s bed. In some cases, the commode frame seats can be placed over a current toilet or raised for greater comfort. Always make your choices keeping in mind the convenience of your loved ones.
The versatility of the bedside commode must be mentioned in the user’s guide, so make sure you study the manual to ensure that they come with the desired features.
What about compatibility?
Many commode owners may want to use bedside commodes upon their own toilets rather than the pot that the commode accompanies. For the same, the portable toilet bucket should be detachable from the commode and compatible with regular toilets.
Of course, you may want to use the commode pots at times too, so the detachable pots are a good choice. Conversely, the fixed pots do not offer this flexibility; hence, you may not want to opt for them.
How much side clearance do they offer?
Many residential toilets are either long or round; and this is a crucial aspect to consider when replacing toilet seats. Nevertheless, most commodes are broad enough to sit over standard toilets. In fact, some models are extra wide, so you may want to check the commode measurements and the clearance area of all toilet sides beforehand.
Are the pots removable?
Most bedside commodes may be used directly over standard toilets, for the waste can then go directly into the toilet bowl and not the removable pot. A good strategy is to use the detachable pots over standard toilet seats as much as possible, for hygiene and convenience purposes.
Though, you can choose to use the removable commode pot during nighttime when you want the chair close by to your bed.
