The bathroom can be a dangerous place at the best of times- water on porcelain creates a real slip hazard and there isn’t always a lot of room to move around- not to mention the sharps that live in this area such as razors, shavers and scissors.

Now imagine this same area when living with limited mobility or a disability- the dangers are exacerbated and, in some circumstances, can be a seriously life threatening issue that needs addressing. It is not surprising that there are a great number of mobility aids around that assist in making the bathroom a safer room to be in.

The two most common aids that assist in this area are the shower chair and the shower stool. Both these bathroom aids are freestanding seats that fit inside the shower cubical and allow the user to sit thereon while they clean themselves, reducing the amount of time that the user has to stand up on a soap-covered floor. The difference between shower chairs and shower stools is the latter does not have a back. This makes the stool smaller and able to fit inside more showers, yet the chair is obviously much more stable being that the user can lean upon the backrest. There are a myriad of designs, types and models of showerchairs and showerstools- folding types for storage and transport, bariatric (heavy-duty) models for 125kg and beyond, wheeled varieties for patient handling and many, many more. Both designs are usually height adjustable, made from either rust-proof or rust-resistant material and are relatively inexpensive.

Another variety of popular bathroom safety devices are toilet aids. The most commonly used toilet safety aid is called an over toilet frame. These frames sit over a toilet and provide the user with hand rails on each side to help assist in pushing up and off when it comes time to vacate the toilet. The overtoilet frame also raises the seat height which also makes it easier to stand up being that the toilet is now much higher from the ground. Both these items are available separately too- toilet risers, or toilet seat raisers, can be purchased to fit on top of existing lavatories to simply act as a bolster. These are usually plastic and come in a good variety of styles, shapes and heights depending on the individuals needs. Alternatively, toilet surrounds (or toilet safety rails) are also available. These rails offer only the hand support to assist in standing and sit like a big ‘U’ around the existing toilet. The existing seat (and therefore seat height) is retained. This is used by people who may have guestsother users visiting the toilet and don’t want to encumber them with an unusually raised seat-height.

There are a large number of other bathroom aids that promote a safer environment- handrails are arguably the most important tool that can be used in this area. One of the most common fall-stories is when somebody uses the towel-rack to either stand up or support themselves in the bathroom. These racks are not designed for much more than a few wet towels and subsequently it is not uncommon to hear of people having terrible accidents when they abuse them in this fashion. Grab rails, or bathroom rails, are generally made from stainless steel and should be mounted in various locations within the bathroom to assist in standing, dressing and other awkward positions. Suction rails are also an option for renters or travellers, but not recommended for long-term usage where a rail can be permanently mounted. Steam can affect

the suction-cups, expanding and contracting also compromising its grip, meaning the rail could end up being a danger in itself. Though if looked after, and reapplied periodically, these suction aids can be quite useful for specific applications. Other handy bathroom aids are washing hoses, sponges on sticks, toe washers, tap turners (to assist in using those hard-to-grip handles) and hundreds of other products.

Sometimes the bathroom can be avoided completely. Free standing commodes, also known as bedside commodes, can be utilised in the bedroom to allow the user a close and convenient toilet in a safer area. Not only does this reduce the likelihood of falling in the bathroom, it stops the user from navigating a dark house in the middle of the night. Bedside commodes come in a variety of styles and designs; from functional and utilitarian (steel or aluminium) to aesthetically pleasing to the eye (basket weave or wood). There are many other pseudo-bathroom aids such as a wide variety of male and female urine bottles (or urinals) and bedpans.

There are so many options when it comes to reducing the risks associated with this area that it is best to obtain some advice from a professional company. The Mobility Shop stocks an enormous range of bathroom safety devices from shower tools, toilet aids all the way through to cleaning sponges. Due to the nature of these products almost everything pertaining to bathroom aids are in stock all of the time, and furthermore can be sent Australia-wide. There are thousands of products online at www.mobilityshop.com.au – check out the ‘Bathroom Aids’ section and make sure you contact Ryan Besso, the General Manager at sales@mobilityshop.com.au, if you have any problems selecting the appropriate device for your needs. If you prefer, you could always check out the products in-store at Unit 1 340 Pennant Hills road, Pennant Hills NSW, or contact us on 1300 133 505 during business hours. Do yourself a favour- don’t risk using a bathroom that isn’t safe. It could be the last thing you do.