Going to the Bathroom in a Wheelchair – Six Simple Tips

Today we’re going to discuss a rather sensitive subject: going to the bathroom in a wheelchair. And we’re not just going to discuss it in those generic, broad terms – we’re going to get down to the nitty gritty here. I’m not going to be purposely gross or anything, but this is not a time to mince words. Using polite language to describe this situation isn’t going to help you handle it any better, so I’ll spare you the carefully selected terms. Let’s just talk common sense.

Going to the restroom in a wheelchair involves three separate actions that must be completed: transferring to the toilet, pulling your pants up, and transferring back to the wheelchair. Unfortunately, these actions can be pretty tough to accomplish if you’re wheelchair-bound. Here are a few tips to make it easier for you:

Consider your wardrobe:

Some people enjoy looking nice just for themselves, but it’s time for a cost-benefit analysis. Is it worth it to wear some fancy trousers that you’ll have a heck of a time pulling up? If you can stomach the fashion faux pas, we highly recommend clothing that’s easier to remove, such as sweatpants or basketball shorts. But anything with an elastic waistband will be helpful. And fortunately, they even make dress pants with forgiving waistlines.

Always apply the brakes

Stability is critical whenever you transfer, so ensure your wheelchair has its brakes firmly applied. You don’t want that thing rolling around when you’re in mid-air.

Grab a hold of something stable

Hopefully a handicap-assist railing will be available for you to grab, but if not, take hold of anything that’s stable and can support some of your weight. You may have to rest your hand on top of the toilet tank or even the wall for support. Just be sure that whatever you grab can handle the weight before you begin the transfer.

Lower your pants before beginning the transfer

This seems to be the easiest way to get your clothes off for a restroom visit. Scoot forward in the chair and lower your pants and underwear, so that you will be prepared to begin once you’re on the toilet. It might even be easier to remove one pant leg from your body completely, in order to allow some freedom for your legs while on the commode.

When you’re finished, wiggle and writhe those pants back up

Now this is the tricky part. Getting your pants back up is a serious challenge for most wheelchair users, so be creative. You’ll likely have to wiggle around a bit to ease those pants back up. Our advice: alternate, pulling up one side at a time.

Or if you’re tired of the struggle, consider Pants Up Easy

This scenario was the inspiration for our product, Pants Up Easy. The name says it all (why overcomplicate it?): this device helps you get your pants up easy. It essentially functions as a spare set of arms, which you can drape your arms over for stability and clear access to your trousers. I’m confident this product can be an enormously positive influence on your life, and would be happy to share more information. Simply give us a call at 1-844-PANTS-UP (1-844-726-8787) or contact us via our website.