With age comes wisdom, and an awful lot of other saddening things like muscle weakness, frequent hospital visits, small to severe injuries, and general fatigue. Everything that used to be simple, everyday tasks will become difficult to perform without help. That includes using the bathroom.
If you are a senior or you are taking care of one, you may experience the difficulty that comes with using regular toilet seats after having a hip replacement or some other related surgery. You should buy a raised toilet seat. In this post, I have compiled seven of the best raised toilet seats for the elderly.
A raised toilet seat is just a taller regular toilet seat that will help older persons to maintain their dignity while obeying nature’s call. They get to sit instead of squatting. Some even have armrests.
So, what is the best raised toilet seat for the elderly?
#1. Vive Hinged Toilet Seat Riser | Best Raised Toilet Seat for The Elderly
The Vive Hinged Toilet Seat Riser is best for people who have problems with moving around because of aging. The seat is very sturdy, and the material is made with a strong 350 lbs. composite plastic. It attaches directly to the toilet bowl, giving you an additional height of 3.5 inches.
One good thing is that you can choose the model that suits your type of toilet bowl. For instance, you can choose a standard or elongated style.
Because of the additional height, older persons don’t have to bend or squat to use the toilet. It is recommended for people who are suffering from weakening joints, surgeries, tiredness, and pain. The height also reduces the risk of falling.
It is very easy to install, even without the use of any sophisticated tools. It comes with secure hinges placed on the back end to make cleaning easy. You can lift the seat up to wipe the toilet bowl and disinfect it. That is cool to keep germs away from the bathroom. Clean and healthy does the trick.
PROS:
- Easy to install by anyone, even the elderly
- Easy to clean
- Can be suitable for elongated or standard toilet bowls
- Durable material
- Plastic is split-resistant for longevity and reliability
- You can attach soft toilet seats for more comfort
CONS:
- Only one color available
- No handles
- Seat wobbles under pressure or movement
#2. Vive Toilet Seat Riser With Handles | Best Raised Toilet Seat With Handles
Of all the toilet seats that have handles we tested, this Vive Toilet Seat has a handle sturdy enough to grip and not push off. Older ones can use the firm handles to ease on and off this seat for maximum confidence and safety.
If you ask my grandma, armrests on any seat are nice. But if they are wobbly or unstable, the person sitting may fear too much to use them. Because they mostly feel tired and weak, the Vive Toilet Seat Riser with Handles is an excellent option for the elderly.
The best thing about the Vive with Handles is that like the Vive Riser, you have the option to choose for either standard toilet or elongated option. This toilet seat gives you 3.5 inches more to the regular height, giving the older person comfort without bending too low.
What’s more? The handles are padded with a soft, comfortable grip for non-slip assistance when standing or sitting. The handles are also removable and are easy to install.
PROS:
- Height of 3.5” for comfortable sit
- Comfortable and soft-grip handles for added safety
- The seat is designed to be split resistant for durability
- The seat installs securely with no sliding or slipping
CONS:
- Shorter people may have a problem with the height
- Not as easy to install as the Vive Riser
- May be too expensive
#3. Essential Medical Supply Elevated Toilet Seat | Best Raised Toilet Seat for Elongated Toilet
Now we have this Medical Supply toilet seat. For a first, not all toilet seats fit over an elongated toilet bowl, but this is one of those specifically designed for elongated toilets.
Some older people prefer using an elongated toilet seat because it is wider. The Essential Medical Supply Elevated Toilet Seat can fit a 19.5-inch long and 14-inch wide toilet bowl.
This medically recommended seat adds a 3.5-inch height to your original toilet seat. Besides the height, this toilet seat comes with removable, padded arms for support while standing or sitting down. When you don’t use them, you can remove the arms them to get them out of the way.
The package comes with all the setup you need. And I tell you, it is very easy to install. You can use it under your regular toilet seat.
PROS:
- Fits elongated toilet seats perfectly
- Easy to install
- Comes with bolts that hold the seat securely
- Comfortable height for sitting and easy get off
- Handles offer independence
CONS:
- Not stable on some toilets
- Handles are too narrow and not suited for large persons
- No return policy
#4. Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat | Best Portable Raised Toilet Seat
Firm, compact, yet tall and sturdy, I’m talking about the Yunga Tart seat. The design makes it comfortable as it has hand holes and special grips on the bottom. The grips even keep the portable seat in place while the hand holes keep you in place.
If you travel, or you want your other tenants to use your toilet, you must buy a portable toilet seat. Among all the lightweight toilet seats that are replaceable, the Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat can fit on any toilet bowl. Hence, it is the best seat for people who will change toilets now and then.
With four non-skid pads on the bottom, this toilet seat holds well on the toilet when you’re using it. It is designed with contours to give older people comfort and stability.
The seat is easy to clean and install on any toilet. The toilet is very small and so cannot carry more than 300 pounds of weight per person.
PROS:
- Non-slip pads for stability
- Can be used on any type of toilet bowl
- The seat is lightweight yet sturdy
- Hand holes on the seat to grab onto for support
- Easy to move for those who don’t need it
- Cheap
CONS:
- Cannot carry too much weight
- The seat may be too tall at 4 inches
- Hand holes may be too small for larger hands
#5. AquaSense Raised Toilet Seat | Best Cheap Raised Toilet Seat
If you are on a budget, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. Most cheap toilet seats have poor quality. But this AquaSense toilet seat is just different. It has an inner lip for a snug fit so that seniors can enjoy the lift and comfort without breaking the bank.
First, it is made for really tall people as it has a 4-inch height. Nonetheless, it is lightweight and portable for easy movement from room to room. And this seat can carry up to 400 pounds of weight per person.
For less than 20 dollars, you get an aesthetic design, easy to clean and install, portable toilet seat that gives you all the confidence you need. I almost forgot to tell you about the inner lip feature on the seat that fits inside your toilet bowl so that the AquaSense will not slide off.
PROS:
- Okay for larger older persons
- Inner lip prevents the seat from sliding off the toilet bowl
- Ease of use.
- Simple place and clipping inner lip to bowl, no installation
- Easy removal
- Highly affordable price
CONS:
- Cannot be used on elongated toilets
- Users say that it smells because the ‘stuff’ seeps onto the toilet bowl
- No handles or hand holes
#6. Drive Medical Elevated Toilet Seat | Best Raised Toilet Seat Removeable Handle
The purpose of having a raised toilet seat is to ease an older adult the difficulty they have when it comes to bending and straightening up. It makes it a lot easier for them to their business. When a raised toilet seat is not comfortable or stable, it defeats that purpose. On this Drive Medical model, there is a pair of handles to give you added stability and a sense of security.
This support will relieve strain on your legs. The best part of this Drive Medical toilet seat is that it is easily detachable. It is 5 inches in height and is made for round toilets. The material is sturdy and is easy to install and clean.
PROS:
- Padded handles to allow stability, security and easier standing and sitting
- Easily attaches to toilet bowl using a hand screw
- Easy to clean plastic
- Can hold up to 300 lbs of weight
- Can be easily removed
CONS:
- Too tall
- Only made for round toilets
#7. Carex Elongated Hinged Toilet Seat Riser | Best Hinged Raised Toilet Seat
The reason why I love hinged toilet seats is the ease it gives you to raise it and clean both the toilet bowl and the toilet seat. This toilet seat riser comes in sizes that fit elongated and standard toilets.
This toilet seat is easy to install. You have to place underneath a regular toilet seat if you have one. The biggest selling point is the ease of cleaning. On its own, Carex elongated hinged seat is 3.5 inches tall. Add that to your original toilet seat height, and you will get around 4.5 inches.
PROS:
- Hinged design
- Can carry up to 300 lbs. weight
- Comes in two types for both round and elongated toilets
- Easy to clean and install
CONS:
- Unstable
- Urine can seep from the seat onto the floor
- Can be too tall
- No hardware
Buyer’s Guide – What is a Raised Toilet Seat?
A raised toilet seat is giving your toilet a lift to raise the height of your toilet for elderly people who may have problems with moving around.
Most of these toilet seats are adjustable, depending on the user’s needs. Some can be put to replace a regular toilet seat. Some are installed under the regular seats. Yet there are some with handles like armrests.
Some are permanently screwed to the toilet bowl. Some are easily detachable. Some are easy to install by merely placing and clipping the seat onto the bowl. Still, some need to be screwed in.
Some are portable seats that can be carried around while some are too heavy for that. A good raised toilets seat will have contoured plastic that features some type of non-slip padding underneath to keep it from sliding off the bowl.
Raised toilet seats are excellent for seniors who are finding it more and more difficult to lower themselves onto their existing toilets. An increase in height means less bending for seniors and a decrease in the risk of falls or injuries.
What should you look for in a raised toilet seat?
#1. Height – The height of the raised toilet seat can vary. But depending on the user, 3 to 3.5 inches is fine. Anything taller than 4 inches will give the user issues.
#2. Shape – Most toilet seats are made for a specific type of toilet bowl. Ensure that you know the shape of your toilet and that it matches the shape of the toilet seat you want to buy.
#3. Install Mechanism – You can choose a toilet seat based on what you know. If you are not good with screws and bolts, it is good to get one that is easy to install without those.
#4. Added features – Some raised toilet seats also have additional features that enhance them. The best added features to a raised toilet seat are armrests. Some can have hand holes, grippers, and so on.
#5. Weight – You must consider how heavy the user is before buying a toilet seat. Most toilet seats cannot carry more than 400 lbs. If you want to buy a toilet seat for a large person, click here to see the best (insert hyperlink)
Final Words
No one can stop aging. You only need to find what is suitable for you in every turn. You have the right to be confident and safe in your bathroom. Look at the best that suits your weight, your toilet shape, your budget, and your preferences among the best toilets seats for the elderly I have listed. Remember to share with your old folks.