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If you are a heavier person, check the manufacturer's details to ensure that the weight limit of the commode is suitable. Consider how you can maintain your independence, for example by installing equipment to help with transfers on and off the toilet; by positioning grab rails in strategic places; or by using a sanichair (see below). They are generally fixed to the wall alongside the toilet, but if this is not structurally possible, then a rail that extends from the wall behind the toilet could be used. BS 8300:2001 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people – Code of Practice gives information on the suggested layouts for accessible toilets in public buildings. They can also be used as a transfer chair and some can be positioned over the toilet with the commode pan removed.A chrome plated durable toilet cistern lever with a larger paddle handle surface to make flushing easier for the disabled and elderly. For toileting purposes, since it is essential that the user’s bottom is kept clear of the sling, slings with an aperture or a toileting (divided leg) sling should be used.

They have the added advantage that they provide a handhold either side, but they are more obtrusive. If there is nobody to carry out the emptying task, then a chemical commode might provide a solution because it needs emptying less frequently. It is important to check the distance between the toilet pan and the wall, or any place where the grab rail is sited. Self-propelled over-toilet chairs enable the wheelchair user to transfer themselves into the chair from, for example, the bed, propel themselves into the bathroom/toilet and manoeuvre themselves over the toilet.

It may be necessary to use the hoist in the bedroom where space is less restricted, and transfer onto a mobile over-toilet chair. A larger person might be more comfortable sitting on a seat that is square with a central aperture rather than a toilet-style seat. These are usually made of fibreglass or clay and can be shaped and coloured to match your existing toilet pedestal. Someone who has weakness or stiffness in their wrists or hands may find a lever flush difficult to manage. The commode pan is deeper and contains liquid disinfectant to help neutralise odours and kill bacteria.

If further assistance and/or support is needed, then it may be necessary to use a mobile over-toilet chair or an overhead hoist. Where the toilet facilities in a home are shared, it can be difficult to cater for everyone’s needs. It would only be useful if you are able to pull yourself up to standing and then maintain your own weight. Remember drinking is important to maintain fluid balance in the body and to regulate body temperature. Lead times are shown on the product and trolley pages and are always advertised in working days (Monday to Friday).Padded seats can provide a degree of compression under the heavier areas such as the buttocks, providing support in a similar way to a dish-shaped seat. Toileting equipment is not readily available on short term loan for hygiene reasons, but local branches of the British Red Cross often run equipment loan schemes and can sometimes loan equipment such as a commode.