How Do Wheelchair Users Go To The Toilet?

You know, when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. But what about wheelchair users who can’t just walk into a narrow toilet cubicle and do their business without a second thought? For wheelchair users, going to the toilet requires planning and often a backup plan. And sometimes the help of someone else.

Many wheelchair users can use a toilet independently, while others need assistance. Still, others may need to use diapers or other aids to help them go to the toilet. The way wheelchair users go to the toilet depends on their disability and the control they have over their bladder and bowels.

One can use all sorts of gadgets and modifications to make toileting easier for wheelchair users. These include aids in the bathroom, like handrails, commodes, and slide boards. For those who can’t use a toilet for whichever reason, there are diapers, catheters, and colostomy bags. Each wheelchair user is unique and has their own needs and preferences.

Wheelchair users differ in their diagnoses, abilities, and requirements. For example, a person with paraplegia will have more maneuverability than a person with quadriplegia, so their options will differ according to their mobility. So, depending on the extent of their mobility, wheelchair users can use one or more of the following options for toileting:

Wheelchair users will usually use one or more of the above options, depending on their situation and the extent of their injury. For example, suppose they travel long distances or have no control over their bowels. In that case, they might opt for a catheter, colostomy bag, or diaper. Those with more mobility and control of their bowels and bladder can use wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

Many, if not most, wheelchair users enjoy the independence of using a toilet. People with paraplegia can transfer to and from a toilet independently, provided they have adequate upper body strength, preferably no vestibular (balance) issues, and can access the toilet.

Those unable to transfer to a toilet independently would need help to move to and from the toilet.

Either way, both require similar steps to get from the wheelchair to the toilet and back again. The guidelines are as follows:

Roll the wheelchair right next to the toilet so that it is at a 45-degree angle to the toilet. Lock or stabilize the wheelchair. Remove the footrest nearest to the toilet and fold up the other footrest. Raise the armrest of the wheelchair nearest to the toilet unless it is needed for assistance in standing.

This step will vary depending on the person’s mobility, if there’s a helper, or if an aid is used, e.g., a slide board.

Suppose the wheelchair user can transfer by themselves. In that case, they will hold onto a handrail or the toilet seat (wiped clean) and pull themselves onto the toilet. Some wheelchair users recommend removing pants and underwear before sliding onto the toilet. Still, others shift from side to side while lowering their undergarments.

If a caregiver is helping, they should focus on supporting the wheelchair user’s side of lesser mobility. This would include placing one foot alongside their weaker foot. Doing so will provide some leverage during transfer while guarding their weaker leg to help them stand up. Bear in mind the wheelchair user’s feet must be set in the correct position when they are helped up.

The wheelchair user must shuffle forward toward the end of the wheelchair. They must hold onto the armrests of their wheelchair and lean forward towards the caregiver. The caregiver should hold onto the wheelchair user’s hips or gait belt to guide their movement. Both parties can prepare for the transfer using a countdown.

On the count, the wheelchair user must push off the armrests while the caregiver pulls them forward and up by the hips. Once standing, the caregiver can pivot and shuffle the wheelchair user until the toilet, in a slow clockwork motion, until the toilet touches the back of their legs.

If their undergarments aren’t yet removed, the wheelchair user can remove them while standing supported. Then, they can reach back and hold onto a rail or armrest with one or both arms while the caregiver gently lowers them onto the toilet. The caregiver should ensure the wheelchair user is comfortably seated and balanced (not a falling risk) before allowing them privacy.

Once the wheelchair user is finished on the toilet, they can get back onto their wheelchair the same way they got onto the toilet. The wheelchair’s wheels should be locked to make the transfer more manageable, and the footrests should be replaced once they are seated.

There is a variety of aids that can help wheelchair users go to the toilet more easily. These include the following:

As per ADA regulations, the ideal toilet seat height should be about 15 to 16 inches off the ground. This height can be achieved in two ways:

Commodes come in a variety of styles. Some can be rolled over a toilet, reducing the risks of transferring the wheelchair user in the bathroom. Some commodes can also be used for showering, making them an extra helpful aid.

Sometimes using a physical toilet isn’t a viable option for a wheelchair user, and they need to use something more practical. For example, they could be traveling on a long-haul flight, and using the airplane toilet is impractical because of limited space. Or, the wheelchair user might have a spinal cord injury that affects their ability to control their bowels and bladder function.

Some of the options that they can use to go to the toilet are diapers, a catheter, a colostomy bag, or a bed pan for emergencies. Each of these options comes in different designs. For example, some catheters can be surgically inserted, whereas others are external and used as needed.

The way wheelchair users go to the toilet depends on the extent of their disability and their current circumstances. Some can use toilets independently, while others need assistance. Wheelchair users without control over their bladder or bowels could use diapers, a catheter, or a colostomy bag. They could use the same options if traveling long distances or the available toilets aren’t practical.