Retain Dignity with Shower Commode Chairs
When you suffer from a debilitating disease like multiple sclerosis or a major stroke, independence often goes out the window. Even the most basic aspects of self-care are often left to a nurse or home caregiver. Your mind still works great, but your body has retired. Thus, it makes it even more devastating to deal with the physical challenges. But, with the proper assistive aids, life can have some semblance of normalcy. For example, you can retain a little dignity with shower commode chairs.
Shower commode chairs can bring safety back into the bathroom, and bring a sense of luxury back to the most basic privileges of life. With the help of a caregiver, you can transfer to the chair from you bed or regular wheelchair. The arm is removable, so you can use a transfer board and have more stability, or simply have an easier transition with help.
Bathroom Safety
Once in the chair, the arm is repositioned, and your caregiver can safely wheel you into the bathroom. The shower commode chair fits over most standard toilets. So, you can have the dignity of eliminating in the toilet rather than a bedpan or a diaper. While it may seem like a small thing to others, you know how wonderful it is to use a toilet again.
Then, it is a simply transition from the commode to the bygone luxury of a shower. Even if you still need help from a caregiver to bathe, the simply pleasure of feeling the warm water washing away the feeling of sitting or lying down all day feels so good.
A Sense of Freedom
Most people take the shower or commode for granted, because they have no idea how difficult it is to lose the ability to care for you. In fact, some people can be totally condescending. They do not even know what to say or do. Totally clueless as to the physical challenges you face daily, they might not even comprehend the sense of freedom a simple shower commode chair can provide.
But, if you even have limited use of your arms, you may be able to enjoy bathing yourself to some degree. Even if you need help for shampooing and making sure the surface area of your skin is clean, you can use a hand-held shower head to bask under the warm water for awhile.
Caregiver Assistance
In truth, probably one of the best qualities of a shower commode chair is the assistance it gives to your caregiver. You do not like to use a bedpan or adult diaper. Your caregiver does not relish cleaning up after elimination either. Although quite willing to do whatever it takes to make your life better, it makes the job a lot easier, if you can use the toilet.
In addition, bathing is a lot easier, if you can change positions and sit up during shampoos and washings. It gives you both a sense of normalcy and can save his/her back during the process. Not as much lifting is involved, if you can sit in a shower commode chair.
Yes, you have been devastated by disease or illness. But, there are things you can do, and helpful aids that can be purchased, to make life a little easier and closer to normal. You really can retain a little dignity with shower commode chairs, while helping your caregiver in the process.