1. Module: Toilet and shower chairs
  2. Lesson 3: Step two: Fit
  3. Topic 2 of 2

Set up where the toilet or shower chair will be used

Topic Progress:

Check location

Discuss with the person (and their caregiver or family where appropriate) where they would like their toilet or shower chair placed.

Check that:

  • The way to the area is smooth and uncluttered
  • The area is private
  • There is enough space
  • All four legs of the chair are in even contact with the floor
  • There is a place to wash hands (for toilet chair).

If a person needs assistance, extra room will be needed for the person helping to move and turn around.

A man stands in the middle of a bathroom with his rollator and a woman behind him. She has her hands on his hips to support him. Around them is a circle showing they have enough space to turn around in the room.

Activity

Sofia, a woman wearing sturdy shoes, walks with the support of a rollator.

Remember Sofia?

Sofia uses a rollator to move around.

Look at Sofia’s toilet.

Sofia walks up a ramp using her rollator to get to her bathroom. A toilet chair with armrests is placed over a squatting toilet. A basin with soap is provided. There is a door and the doorway is wide enough to fit Sofia’s rollator and for her to get inside.

Is it suitable for her?



What makes it suitable?

Click to see answer

Yes, Sofia’s toilet looks suitable.

  • The way is smooth and uncluttered
  • The area is private
  • There is enough space
  • All four legs of the toilet chair are in even contact with the floor
  • There is a place for Sofia to wash her hands
  • There is good lighting.

Activity

Cali is dressed in a bath robe and is sitting on a shower stool in her shower.

Remember Cali?

Cali has arthritis and finds walking painful.

Look at Cali’s bathroom.

Inside a bathroom is a toiler chair with armrests placed over a sitting toilet. A shower stool with arm rests sits in a shower. There is a grab bar on the wall of the shower. A sink has a light and mirror above it. There is room for a rollator or walking frame.

Is Cali’s bathroom suitable?



What makes it suitable?

Click to see answer

Yes Cali’s bathroom looks suitable.

  • The area is private
  • There is enough space
  • All four legs of the toilet chair and shower chair are in contact with the floor
  • There is a place for Cali to wash her hands
  • There is good lighting.

Toilet and wash facilities in emergency shelters

Reflection

People with disabilities shared concerns about their local emergency shelter. They reported that they would rather stay at home than use the shelter, despite the danger during floods and cyclones. Their concerns included:

  • Muddy and rough pathways
  • No ramps or handrails to reach the raised building
  • Doors to toilets and wash areas too narrow for wheelchair users to enter
  • No grab bars in the toilet
  • All toilets were squat toilets.

Based on these findings, authorities worked with the local community, including people with disabilities, to ensure the shelter was accessible to everyone. Some of the key actions were:

  • Permanent wheelchair friendly paths free of obstacles were built
  • As the building was raised, a ramp with handrails was installed beside the steps
  • Doorways to the toilets and wash areas were widened
  • Toilet chairs and grab bars were installed in a number of the toilet cubicles to help people transfer safely.

Reducing environment barriers

Activity

For each situation below, what is the best way to overcome the barrier?

1. Barrier: Step at a doorway.

A man using a wheelchair has stopped at the bottom of two steps.

A woman using a walking stick stands at the bottom of a step.




Click to see answer

A man uses his wheelchair to go up a ramp placed over stairs.

A woman uses a grab bar put on the wall and her walking stick to help her go up the step.

Using a portable ramp and adding a grab bar or rail are both good solutions.

2. Barrier: Door opens inwards, reducing space inside.

An older man uses a walking frame and is assisted by a woman up a ramp. At the top is the door to a bathroom. The door is open into the room, almost hitting the toilet chair over a squatting toilet.




Click to see answer

An older man uses a walking frame and is assisted by a woman up a ramp. At the top is the door to a bathroom. The door is open away from the room, leaving a lot of space inside.

A door is hung on the wall to slide open and closed. The doorway is 900mm wide. Inside the room is a standing toilet and toilet roll.

Hang the door so that it opens outwards or changing to a sliding door are both good solutions.

Refer to the TAP Portable ramps module for more information on ramps.

Refer to the TAP Grab bars module for more information on grab bars.

You have completed Lesson three!

If you have any questions or comments, post them on the discussion forum.

  1. Module: Toilet and shower chairs
  2. Lesson 3: Step two: Fit
  3. Topic 2 of 2

Discussion forum