Adding temporary disabled assistance to a bathroom. 7 January at 9:56AM edited 7 January at 9:57AM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 35 replies 729 views

ThisIsWeird

Hi all.

Bro has had an altercation with a motorbike, resulting in a broken lower leg and ankle. He'll be recuperating with us as we have a spare room with en-suite. I've just tried practising 'sitting down on t'pan' with one leg stuck out in front, and - even without the accompanying pain - it's very difficult. So, need to look at adding stuff to assist.

Problems - floor is tiled, so really don't want to drill through it. Back wall behind pan is boxed out - a lightweight wooden frame clad in T&G timber so not strong enough to take bolt-on handrails and stuff (holes could be filled afterwards, so that's not the main issue).

I'm about to start researching, but wonder if anyone has any experience of such a situation? Free-standing frames and stuff?

Many thanks :-)

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi all.

Bro has had an altercation with a motorbike, resulting in a broken lower leg and ankle. He'll be recuperating with us as we have a spare room with en-suite. I've just tried practising 'sitting down on t'pan' with one leg stuck out in front, and - even without the accompanying pain - it's very difficult. So, need to look at adding stuff to assist.

Problems - floor is tiled, so really don't want to drill through it. Back wall behind pan is boxed out - a lightweight wooden frame clad in T&G timber so not strong enough to take bolt-on handrails and stuff (holes could be filled afterwards, so that's not the main issue).

I'm about to start researching, but wonder if anyone has any experience of such a situation? Free-standing frames and stuff?

Many thanks :-)

Sorry to hear about your brother, hope he gets well soon.

I would scan through the websites of companies selling mobility aids to get ideas of how they do it.

Also possibly look into hiring some equipment, like a commode and hoist (for use in the bedroom until the en-suite can be used comfortably)

There are commercial organisations that provide these service, but also other organisations like the Red Cross.

Although he may not quailify for the Red Cross services, they have some useful information and guides - e.g. see the PDF link on this page -

https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-toilet-aid

ThisIsWeird

Thank you, Section, and for your good wishes - I'll check all that out.

grumbler

Try some loop or a bar suspended to the ceiling joist(s).

twopenny

You can get suction grab rails if the wall is near enough to the loo. You'd have to look at reviews and if they'd need tiles to adhere to. They are under a tenner in some cases.
Small folding stool for footrest. Mine has been a godsend around the house for a fiver.
You can get plastic shower stool seats for the shower that you take in and out.
The shop floor needs to be very non slip. Can you still get those adhesive thingies that stick down?
Getting into the bath one legged is easy, getting out nigh on impossible even with handles so don't go there.
I found a lightweight folding chair was good when I wanted to make a coffee and such.

Martin_the_Unjust

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/bathroom-aids/toilet-frames/standard-toilet-frames/economy-toilet-frame?sku=M00869

ln a similar situation many years ago I found the above (or similar) to be excellent 

Rodders53

Check out your local Council's Occupational Therapy bods... some will visit to assess needs and often will loan kit for use and certainly offer best practice advice.

The freestanding frame suggestion would likely be a suitable device?

Local mobility shops are another source of advice and assistance devices.

PLEASE do not use suction hand grips.  They are near lethal when they inevitably lose their grip on tiles.

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Thank you, Section, and for your good wishes - I'll check all that out.

Something else to consider... if the altercation involved a road traffic accident and he wasn't the one riding the bike then he might have a valid claim against the other party's insurer for the cost of equipment needed during recuperation.  The consequences of making a(n increased) claim against his own insurance would need to be thought about more carefully.

If you haven't already, might I suggest calling the people who do the thingy which is an optional extra on insurance policies to see if they have any suggestions or advice. Hopefully you'll know the kind of thingy I'm thinking of, I've momentarily forgotten what it is called.

twopenny

I wasn't sure about those but they've been around a long time.
The house I moved into had screwed in grab handles in every room on thin plasterboard and were very secure.
I've taken them out, including tiles, and filled with very little trouble and you'd not know. In the tiles you have to really look for them.

Eldi_Dos

If unable to bend leg I would imagine one of those raised seats would help along with frame similar to link provided by Martin.
Hope brother improves soon.
How's the bike?

FreeBear

Section62 said: There are commercial organisations that provide these service, but also other organisations like the Red Cross.

Although he may not quailify for the Red Cross services, they have some useful information and guides - e.g. see the PDF link on this page -

https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-toilet-aid

Had someone visiting from Canada that required a wheelchair after contracting an infection - Local GP made a referral to Red Cross, and he managed to get a wheelchair from them for a couple of weeks. Not sure if he got charged or not..

If RC are unable to assist, I'm sure they could signpost to other groups.