Pain-Free Living

Bathroom Comfort and Safety

by Wendy McBrair, MS, BSN, CHES

Arthritis can affect all aspects of your life, even what you do in the privacy of your bathroom. Emptying your bladder and bowel shouldn’t be affected by arthritis, you say! Unfortunately, it often is. If you find using the bathroom difficult because of your arthritis, read on for information that may help you maintain your independence and avoid problems down the line.

Safety first

The bathroom is one of the most frequented rooms in any house. In fact, you may use the bathroom 8–10 times a day, including trips at night. Because it gets so much use, the bathroom needs to be safe and user-friendly.

No matter how much pride you have or how much you want to avoid being a burden on others, not taking the issue of bathroom safety seriously can have harmful consequences. Falls in the bathroom are all too common and can lead to hospitalizations, surgeries to repair broken bones, and health issues such as concussions, sprains, strains, and bruises. Injuries caused by falls often lead to stays in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers and can bring about a decline in your independence and confidence. Preventing falls is therefore one of the primary goals of bathroom safety.

To help prevent falls, start by making sure your bathroom is well lit. Using low-watt bulbs may reduce your energy use and electricity bills, but poor lighting can be a major cause of falls. An easy-to-reach switch is a necessity, especially for trips to the bathroom at night. In addition, a night-light somewhere between your bed and bathroom is a good idea. Look for one that goes on automatically when the room begins to go dark so you don’t have to remember to switch it on and off. Also, clear the floor of any shoes, clothes, electric cords, or debris that might cause you to trip on your way from the bed to the bathroom and back again. If you have throw rugs on the floors, remove them, and if you have a bathroom rug, it should have a rubber, nonslip backing. Make sure to dry any wet spots on the bathroom floor as soon as they occur. You might also want to consider wearing a medical alert pendant with a button you can push to call for help, in case you get stuck on the toilet seat or have a fall in the bathroom.

Helpful products

Sitting down and getting up from a toilet is not only a possible safety issue, it can also be an issue of ability. Weak, painful, and stiff muscles can make it difficult to do. However, a number of products can make going to the bathroom easier and ultimately safer. The first is a raised toilet seat. There are different ways to raise the height of a toilet seat, but almost all of them allow you to sit approximately four inches higher than when using a regular seat, making it easier for you to get on and off. If you are renovating your bathroom, consider installing a toilet that is higher than usual, or look for a toilet raiser, a product that is placed between the toilet and the floor. Otherwise, you can buy raised toilet seats that can be clipped or installed onto a regular toilet seat. The raised seats come in many sizes and models. Some come with handles, with padded seats, or in extra wide sizes with supportive legs on the side. Others have sloped sides so you can extend your right or left leg, and there is even one for people who have had a hip replacement. There is also a portable model that can simply be placed on the toilet bowl and easily removed when company comes to visit. The portable seat comes with a carrying case and a handle so the seat can be taken wherever you go; no one will know what you are carrying.

In addition to using a raised toilet seat, you might also consider installing safety rails (“grab bars”) near the toilet so you can use your arms to help yourself get up and down from the toilet seat. Some models of safety rails attach to the toilet seat, and some attach to the floor. A different model supports itself and simply sits in front of the toilet with two legs and arms that extend to each side (this model even has a magazine holder to keep your favorite reading material close at hand). Like the portable toilet seat, it can be moved if company comes. Again, the rails help you to sit down and get up more easily. You can also buy a wall-mounted safety handrail that you can hold on to when sitting down and rising from the toilet. You may have to have these handrails professionally installed into the wall. No matter what equipment you use, it is important that you have something secure to hold on to if you need it. Although holding on to the sink, windowsill, or other bathroom fixture might seem cheaper and easier, it is not safe, either for you or for the fixture you are grabbing.

If you find making your way to the toilet at night difficult or unsafe, consider purchasing a commode to place next to your bed. Some commodes can also be used as a shower bench, which makes washing your private parts easier. Or they can be placed over a toilet seat to raise its height, with the arms of the commode acting as safety rails. If your home has more than one floor but doesn’t have a bathroom on the first floor, you can place a commode downstairs. If you are planning on remodeling the home, consider adding a downstairs bathroom. If you are going to be buying or renting a new home and it has more than one floor, consider one with a full or half bath on the first floor. A downstairs bathroom can help you stay in your home much longer if you find it increasingly difficult to navigate stairs.

Getting clean

Getting clean after voiding or having a bowel movement can also be difficult for people with arthritis. This can be because of limited range of motion or weak or painful hands. To make getting clean easier, you can use a toilet tissue aid along with toilet paper or “baby” wipes. These aids have long handles and a curved shape that make it possible to clean difficult-to-reach places. After use, you release the toilet paper by pressing a button.

Believe it or not, exercise can also be a bathroom aid. Stretching exercises can help you become more flexible. Yoga, tai chi, or an arthritis exercise program can help with flexibility and can make it possible to reach the private areas that need wiping and cleaning without an aid. Stretching exercises that keep your back flexible are best for improving your ability to reach. If you still find it impossible to bend far enough or if it is hard to hold the aid, you could consider installing a bidet in your toilet. A bidet sprays warm water on areas needing cleaning.

Some people who have trouble in the bathroom try their own ideas to help deal with problems. For instance, they might reduce how much liquid they drink so they do not have to use the bathroom as often. However, limited fluid intake can lead to constipation and to concentrated urine that can burn. In most cases, it is better to make bathroom trips safer and easier than to try to reduce the number of trips. If you feel you are voiding too often or having a problem with constipation, discuss these issues with your doctor. There are medicines, some prescription and some over-the-counter, that can help.

Finally, if you are considering or have questions about any of the equipment mentioned in this article, you can ask your doctor for a referral to a physical or occupational therapist. These specialists can recommend the products that are most appropriate for you.

Last Reviewed October 18, 2012

Wendy McBrair spent 30 years as a health-care professional in the fields of rheumatology and orthopedics, where she specialized in patient and community service, patient education, and advocacy.

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