A Place for Seniors to Learn About Staying in your Home a Little Longer.

About Toilet Lifts - Toilet Seat Lifts Keep You Safe on the Throne

There really are only two Toilet Lifts on the market worth mentioning. The first is a spring powered lift. It's very inexpensive, around $170. The idea is simple. The seat is up when you start - not like the usual toilet seat, this one hinges on the front and comes up to meet your rear while you're standing. You begin to sit back and a spring and hydraulic piston device slowly lowers you to a seated position. Basically, it takes most of your weight off - they claim about 80% of your weight. When you've finished your business, you simply stand up on your own power. Again, 80% of your weight is lifted by the spring / hydraulic devise. The whole stand comes with a "potty bucket" as show in the photo, but it will fit over your toilet so you don't have to deal with the "bucket".

The other toilet lift is a motorized system that will lift all of your weight. It runs about $1000, but it may be well worth it. It installs on your toilet. There's a tethered hand controller that raises and lowers the toilet seat with you on it. Again, as youcan see from the anmiated picture below, the motion of the toilet seat follows your rear-end. It's not hinged on the back like the toilet seat that I always forget to put down. You use the controller to raise the seat to meet you in a standing position, you then lean back a few inches, then you let the seat lower you into the seated position. When you've finished your business, you push the "up" button on the controller and the toilet lift raises you to a standing position. All you need to do is start walking. There is a single motor unit toilet lift for people under 275 pounds and a two motor unit for people up to 500 pounds.

Both of these items are wonderful for staying independent. When you think about it, it really is embarasing to have a loved one help you go to the bathroom. Even if you have in-home care help, a toilet lift will assist your aide in getting you up and down on the toilet.

Both units are availble at US Medical, one of my most-trusted places to buy for seniors. Click here for more info on US Medical.

See also Bath Lifts.