Are you looking to buy a toilet for a wheelchair user? Well, you need to consider the size of the bathroom and the structure of the bathroom walls, as well as the type of wheelchair in use and the physical needs of the individual. The federal ADA guidelines state all publicly accessible facilities must allow access for those living in a wheelchair. Here is what you need to consider when buying a toilet for a wheelchair user.
Toilet Bowl Depth
Wall-hung toilets come in different shapes and sizes. If this is the type of toilet you want to buy for a wheelchair user, you need to plan for the clear floor space below the toilet bowl. That way, it’s easier to move and turn around when the person is inside the bathroom. You need to pick a toilet model without a very deep bowl so it’s easier for the footrests to pass below the ball.
Toilet Bowl Depth
The toilet seat height will also determine how comfortable the wheelchair user will be while seated on the toilet. It will also determine how easy it is to transfer on and off the toilet. If you buy a toilet with a pedestal height, you can choose one with pre-fixed heights. You can settle for a wall-hung toilet style to allow flexibility when choosing the right height for a wheelchair user.
Toilet Bowl Shape
Most people feel that a toilet bowl with an elongated shape (whether rectangular or oval) is more comfortable than a compact-sized bowl (whether square or round). For a smaller bowl, you can enjoy the benefit of gaining on average at least 2 more inches of space in the front part of the bowl.
Wheelchair Leg Rests
Do you have a small bathroom? Does your wheelchair have footrests at a standard height? Well, the space beneath a wall-hung toilet will come in handy. That’s because the footrests will pass underneath the bowl when turning around. Even if you have a large bathroom, a wall-hung toilet style is the best choice compared to a pedestal-like toilet.
That’s because you don’t need to worry too much about the footrests banging into the toilet or scraping it, something likely to happen with a pedestal base toilet. If your chair has elevated-height le rests, you can go with either the wall-hung or pedestal type of toilet. That’s because the space below it is not accessible.
Weight Capacity
There are government regulations in place to make sure that toilet products can’t be returned. Before ordering the toilet, you need to make sure that the weight capacity will actually support you.
Mechanical Parts
Toilets with mechanical parts such as bidets, motorized toilets or those with height-adjustable options, require frequent maintenance. Therefore, you need to plan for it accordingly.
Cost Of Installation
Floor-mounted toilets cost about $200 to $500 to buy and install. If you want a wall-hung toilet, you should expect to pay $1,500 to $2000 for purchase and installation. They are more expensive because they have more parts and it takes a while for the installation of the support frame inside the wall to be completed as well as reinforcing the existing walls. Finally, bidets cost about $1,600 to $4,000 so you need to budget accordingly.
Aesthetics
Most wall-hung toilets are available in public rest rooms and not private homes. Most of these models are not very aesthetically pleasing. However, you can look for the elegant options when looking to install one in your private home. Of course, you need to weigh all the other options to make sure it’s a good fit for you.
Conclusion
Take all these factors into consideration when looking for the best toilet for a wheelchair user.
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