Raised Toilet Seats Choices

By Maurice

Older adults and people who have difficulty standing or sitting can have trouble using the bathroom. Using the toilet is something that is frequently necessary for everyone, and some conditions and various ability levels can make doing such an ordinary and necessary task harder than usual. In some cases, being unable to use the bathroom safely can lead to being unable to live in your own home without around-the-clock care.

Installing a raised toilet seat can make using the toilet safer and help people remain at home longer.

Raised toilet seats come in many styles, sizes, and varieties. Do you or someone you know have difficulty standing or sitting on the toilet? Read on to find out about various raised toilet seat types to help decide which one is best for your needs.

What Is a Raised Toilet Seat?

A raised toilet seat consists of a platform between 2″ and 6″ high. It is placed on top of an existing toilet to decrease the distance needed to sit or stand.

Raised toilet seats are helpful for preventing falls and making it easier for people with disabilities to use the toilet with or without assistance from another person. Those with chronic mobility conditions like arthritis, gout, or Multiple Sclerosis and individuals recovering from surgery may appreciate using a raised toilet seat.

Many raised toilet seat designs and various systems attach to the toilet or place them above it on frames.

Types of Raised Toilet Seats

The type of raised toilet seat best suited for you depends on your individual needs. Here are some of the most popular designs for raised toilet seats.

Best Brands & Models of Raised Toilet Seats

Everyone has different conditions, bodies, and abilities. There are several raised toilet seat models designed to accommodate specific requirements. Here are some of the best brands and models of raised toilet seats to suit various needs.

Elongated Bowl

An Elongated Raised Toilet Seat has an oval shape and is longer than regular, round raised toilet seats. Elongated raised seats should only be applied to toilets with existing elongated bowl shapes.

Tall Seats

The purpose of a raised toilet seat is to make sitting and standing from the bowl easier and more convenient. If you use a raised toilet seat that is not tall enough for the user’s height, the initial problem will still exist. Raised toilet seats can come in heights up to 6 inches tall for taller people. For people above average height, consider a thicker seat like the Savanah Raised Toilet Seat by Performance Health.

Bariatric Seats

Bariatric seats are made of heavy duty materials that can accommodate more weight than ordinary raised toilet seat. For example, the Clean Shield Elevated Toilet Seat by BEMIS can support up to 1200 pounds. Many bariatric seats also have support arms to help bigger people get more leverage when standing and sitting.

Support Arms

For people with lower body strength issues or balance challenges, the Guardian Locking Raised Toilet Seat with Arms by Medline gives users hand grips to steady themselves and leverage while raising and lowering onto the toilet seat.

Hinged Seat

A hinged elevated toilet seat consists of two parts hinged together. Maddak’s Hinged Elevated Toilet Seat allows users to raise the elevated seat like a standard toilet seat so other users can operate the toilet with the seat up. This comes in handy when the toilet is shared with unimpaired users on a regular basis.

Slip Resistant Pad

Raised toilet seats can sometimes shift when sitting or standing. Slipping seats can be uncomfortable and even pose a risk to people with balancing or strength issues. Slip-resistant rubber pads can provide more stability and traction than regular plastic seats. Anti-Slip seats like RehabMart’s Raised Anti-Slip Contoured Toilet Seat offer a more stable center and reduce shifting and slipping while using the toilet.

Raised Seat With Lid

The Bemis Open Wall Elevated Toilet Seat offers a raised toilet seat with a lid for a more discreet bathroom experience. The seat uses pegs rather than a continuous solid surface to elevate the seating area. Some people find the open design more elegant and less bulky than traditional raised seats. And the option to lift or close the lid makes it seem more like a conventional toilet seat.

Portable

Portable seats offer ease of use while traveling or during temporary stays for treatment or supervision. Portable seats are usually easy to install and remove without tools or hardware, like this lightweight, hassle-free model from Drive.

Where to Buy Raised Toilet Seats

You can buy raised toilet seats at Walmart, Amazon, Walgreens, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, and specialist medical suppliers like Rehabmart.com.

Medical equipment refurbishment outlets across the US offer refurbished raised toilet seats at reduced cost and may offer equipment exchanges.

Online ordering is available through Wayfair.com, Amazon, and the listed stores’ websites. Medical specialty suppliers like Rehabmart.com and Rehab-store.com offer quality raised toilet seat at reasonable prices, often with free shipping.

How to Choose a Raised Toilet Seat

Raised toilet seats are available in standard sizes. However, it’s essential to make sure the shape of the raised seat matches the shape of your toilet bowl.

Raised seats come in round and oval designs to match different toilet bowl shapes.

To find a raised toilet seat that matches your body height:

1Measure the distance between the floor to the user’s knee.
2Measure the height of the fixed toilet bowl.
3Calculate the difference to determine the size needed for the raised toilet seat.

Conclusion

Senior home modifications are essential to help older adults remain in their homes for as long as possible. But raised toilet seats aren’t just for seniors. Anyone with mobility problems, joint pain, or similar health conditions can benefit from this inexpensive bathroom modification.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), falls are a primary cause of unintentional injury worldwide. A raised toilet seat can help people with mobility issues to use the toilet independently at home or away.