Bathroom equipment
If your Parkinson’s symptoms are making washing or using the bathroom difficult, it’s worth speaking to an occupational therapist about equipment which could help.
Bathing and showering
Specialist equipment may make it easier to have a bath or shower.
Grab rails in bathrooms
Grab rails are helpful in bathrooms and toilets because they can help give you stability and confidence.
Occupational therapists have recommended that you buy specific non-slip grab rails for the bathroom. Avoid buying general grab rails for use in the bathroom.
Bathroom grab rails are usually plastic, rather than metal, so they become less slippery in rooms that regularly fill up with steam.
Bath seats
Bath seats can help people who find it difficult to keep their balance while sitting in the bath or who find it hard to get into the bath. They are portable stools placed in the bath that you can sit on as you bathe.
Shower seats
Shower seats are waterproof chairs that allow you to sit down while showering. If you have a shower cubicle, you can use a free-standing stool or attach a "flip-down" seat to the wall.
Many styles are available, and the best one for you will depend on your preferences and the size of your shower.
Bath boards
These are plastic boards that can be placed across the top of a bath. You can sit on them from outside the bath and then transfer your legs into the bath while sitting down. They can make it easier to get in and out of the bath.
Converting a bath to a shower or wet room
Some people convert their baths to shower units or wet rooms. A wet room is an open-plan bathroom, where the shower is at the same level as the floor. This means you don’t need to have a separate shower cubicle or tray to drain the water away.
In some cases, it may be easier to convert a small bedroom or large storage area into a shower room or wet room instead of replacing a bath. If you find it hard to climb stairs, it may be an option to add a bathroom to the ground floor of your home.
Major building work in your home can be expensive. It may be possible to get help with funding to help pay for your conversion, but it's important to talk to an occupational therapist first about whether changing your bathroom is right for you.
They can also advise you about potential financial support. You can speak to your local council, social services or Parkinson’s local adviser about grants.
Using the toilet
Specialist equipment can also make it easier to use the toilet.
Raised toilet seats
A raised toilet seat can help you get up more easily from being sat down on the toilet.
A toilet seat should:
- be large enough for you to sit comfortably
- allow your feet to remain firmly on the floor
- be accessible for other people in the house
- safe to remove and replace.
Some local authorities would consider raising your toilet onto a raised platform called a plinth if you need it.
They may also add a plumbed-in toilet seat. A plumbed-in toilet seat, sometimes called a bidet seat or an electronic toilet seat, is connected to your bathroom’s water supply to help you wash yourself after using the toilet.
If they are available, these kinds of adaptations are your choice to use and depend on your needs and preferences. There’s no obligation to have them.
Toilet grab rails
A grab rail can help you get on and off the toilet. You can also use a grab rail to help you balance while standing and using the toilet.
Free-standing rails and hinged drop-down rails that fix to the wall behind the toilet are both available.
Toilet grab rails are usually supplied by social services or your local social work department.
The type of rail that is best for you will depend on if:
- a fixed rail will fit the area around your toilet
- you will need to adjust the rail.
Your rail will need to be set at the right height for your toilet too.
Other toilet equipment
A hand-held urinal may help if you need to go to the toilet urgently, but can’t get out of bed or a chair quickly enough.
Some people use a portable toilet, called a commode. This means they don’t have to walk far at night if they need the toilet urgently or often.
You can buy discreet disposable pads to place in your underwear to help manage incontinence.
Some men who have problems getting to the toilet in time to pass urine, or with leaking urine (called urinary incontinence), prefer to use a sheath. A sheath fits over the penis and collects urine in a leg bag. You can then empty the leg bag into the toilet and clean the bag between uses.
Items like these are often available from specialist continence nurses or services, district nurses or with a GP prescription. They can give you advice on how to use them. Speak to your GP or Parkinson’s nurse for more information.
Perching stools
Perching stools are seats that slope forward. They help you to stand up by allowing you to maintain a semi-seated position.
In the bathroom, perching stools could help you:
- brush your teeth
- wash your hands or face
- apply or remove make-up.
You can often adjust them to the height that you need. Perching stools may also be useful in the kitchen for tasks like washing up dishes.
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Thank you
Thank you to the following experts who contributed to or reviewed this information:
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Rebecca Boddington, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
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Lauren Drake, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, MY Therapy service, Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust
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Rachael Stringer, Occupational Therapist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Thanks also to everyone living with or supporting someone with Parkinson's who provided feedback or helped produce this information.
This content will next be reviewed within 3 years of that date. If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]