Activities of Daily Living
Choosing Equipment for Toileting
November 29, 2011
Earlier this month we published an informative post on toileting. Claire Keeler wrote Toilet Training a Child with Special Needs as a guide to parents facing the challenges of hygiene care for their growing child. Positioning a child with disabilities comfortably on the toilet is an important step in toilet training and often requires adaptive toileting equipment. Knowing what you are looking for is important because terminology can be confusing. For instance, do not use the words heavy duty commode chair when searching for a pediatric toileting chair. A heavy duty commode chair is specifically designed for adult use.
Rifton has a line of adaptive equipment called the Blue Wave Toileting System designed exclusively for the pediatric group. The Blue Wave foldable commode chair is versatile. It can be used on the toilet, over the toilet or as a free-standing commode or shower chair. Here’s how it works:
Stripped to its basics it becomes a cushioned toilet seat that mounts on a regular toilet, but with the addition of arm supports and a seatbelt. This is for a child with minimal involvement. The arm supports and seatbelt provide boundaries. A back rest, tray, and deflector may be added if necessary.
A backrest can be added to basic folding toilet chair for increased support
When not in use the Rifton folding commode chair can be completely collapsed and stored out of the way.
The second use for the Rifton folding toilet chair is over a toilet. The foldable toilet seat becomes more supportive when mounted on a rolling frame. A back rest (short or long) and a footboard are included in the configuration. For improved head and trunk positioning, chest straps and head supports are available. This mobile frame and toilet seat is positioned over a toilet for use – there is seat height adjustment on the frame.
Finally, by slipping a pan underneath the seat, the foldable commode chair becomes a free-standing commode.
And because it is designed for easy cleaning, this folding toilet chair doubles as a roll in shower chair. The fabric option that suits this purpose best is the standard fabric. This is vinyl covered nylon which is more porous and dries faster. The softer fabric, a polyester knit, is designed for greater comfort, especially with extreme spinal curvature.
Toilet training a child with special needs is a challenge. Sometimes finding the right equipment to support your child on the toilet can make a huge difference. If you’re not sure what’s right for your child, call us at Rifton. If the Rifton Blue Wave Toileting System is not right for your child, one of our reps may be able to help you find another manufacturer’s model that meets your needs. Just call 800-571-8189 or email sales@rifton.com
