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Compact toilet rail

Choosing the Best Raised Toilet Seat or Safety Rails

In the bathroom, safety is a priority for those with limited mobility, or those recovering from hip, knee, or back surgery. Be sure to choose the best bathroom safety solution with our selection of handrails and toilet seats. In our guide, we review all the important factors, like compatibility with standard and elongated toilets, safety rails, added height, weight capacity, and recommendations made to fit your needs.

What to Consider when Choosing your Safety Rails or Raised Seat

Try to take all the factors into consideration when choosing a bathroom safety aid for your home.

Raised Seat or Safety Rail

Based on your needs, you’ll need to first decide between a raised seat or a safety rail. A raised toilet seat provides additional height whereas safety rails only provide leverage for sitting and standing. If youre range of motion is limited, we recommend a raised toilet seat to minimize the distance you’ll need to bend.

Our standard Raised Toilet Seat design provides 5” additional inches of height to your toilet seat and has padded handrails to help you stand and sit.

Toilet Size & Shape

Make sure that the raised toilet seat or handrails that you choose will fit accordingly to the size and shape of your toilet bowl. The most common style is standard, which is round in shape and extends 28” out from the wall. Elongated-style seats are more oval in shape and extend 31” from the wall.

You can check out the individual product listings for measurements and specifications before ordering. For almost guaranteed fit, choose our Stand Alone Rail or Stand Alone Toilet Rail. These options are pretty versatile as they don’t require installation to the toilet seat itself.

Safety Rails

Safety rails are a reliable way to get extra support when getting on and off the toilet, offering a firm grip and sturdy design. Ours are made of lightweight and durable aluminum, which prevents rusting in moist bathroom environments. They are a good option for many bathrooms, though they may not always be practical due to their size. If you already have Wall-Mounted Grab Bars, or aren’t concerned about balance, choosing an option without handrails might make more sense.

The Toilet Seat Riser with Arms, Raised Toilet Seat, compact toilet rail, and Stand Alone Toilet Rail, all include foam padding to ensure a secure grip. Our Toilet Safety Frame uses textured plastic handles, which help prevent slipping, are easy to clean, and ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip.

For Added Comfort Add This Toilet Seat Cushion!

Added Height

All of our seat risers add extra height to the toilet, making transfers on and off much easier, especially for those with weak knees or limited range of motion. Our Toilet Seat Riser with Arms and Standard Toilet Seat Riser add 3.5” while our Raised Toilet Seat adds a full 5”.

Weight Capacity

It’s important to get a bathroom safety aid that easily supports your weight, to ensure safety and stability. Check the weight capacity of each of our bathroom aids in the chart above.

Stability

While all our safety rails and toilet seats provide stable support, some designs are more heavy duty than others. Our Newest Safety Rail design features an added horizontal support bar to eliminate any wobble during use. A few other helpful stability tips include:

  • Handrails provide even more stability
  • Seats and rails that bolt to the toilet seat offer the most stability
  • While the Standalone Rail provides ample support, it’s important the user is mobile enough to operate without knocking out of place or tipping.

Both our Toilet Safety Rail and Toilet Safety Frame legs suction to the ground for additional stability and won’t get knocked out of place.

Our Recommendations for...

Find the perfect bathroom safety aid for your needs here.

Toilet Raiser Seat for Elderly

Elderly

Elderly patients often need a bit of extra help when getting on and off the toilet, making a firm grip and stable base invaluable. Our Toilet Riser with Arms adds an extra 3.5” to standard or elongated toilet seats, and stays stable with a smooth plastic base that installs under a regular toilet seat with included screws. Aluminum handles with foam padding are attached with brass pins, giving elderly users a firm grip during transfers.

VIEW Raised Toilet Seat
Toilet Safety Frame

Stability for Long Term

Long term stability means finding a safety frame that is durable, but also simple enough for everyday use. Try the Toilet Safety Frame for a durable aluminum frame that will resist rust and stand up to regular use. Textured plastic handles are easy to grip and won’t show signs of wear while contouring to the shape of your hand. The frame supports up to 300 lbs, making it a good choice for most users.

VIEW Toilet Safety Frame
Toilet Rail for Travel

Travel or Short Term Use

For stability and support when traveling or for short term use, Our Compact Toilet Rail is a good option. It has the most compact design of any of our toilet rails and fits securely to any toilet seat with tool-free installation. Our Raised Toilet Seat is another highly portable option, with a plastic body that can secure to round or elongated toilets. The adjustable knob lets you attach it securely without tools.

VIEW Toilet Rail
Raised Toilet Seat for Surgery Recovery

Surgery Recovery

The weeks and months after surgery can be a difficult time, with decreased mobility and joint fatigue. Whether its a knee replacement surgery or another serious procedure, Our Raised Toilet Seat is a great option. It’s lightweight, plastic body and tool-free attachment makes it good for short term use. Add padded grip handles and an ergonomically designed seat, and you have comfort ideal for easing difficult recoveries.

VIEW THIS Raised Toilet Seat
Stand Alone Rail

Multi-Purpose Use

Our modern Stand Alone Rail was designed with versatility in mind. This rail conveniently fits most toilet shapes and sizes. It’s simple to install and slides right over the toilet bowl for added support on either side. Its minimalist design is more attractive than standard toilet rails, but just as reliable. As an added bonus, the rail can also be used as a stand assist on couches, recliners, or other seating options throughout the house.

VIEW Toilet Rail

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you install a raised toilet seat?

A: Our standard toilet seat riser and toilet seat riser with arms are both made to be installed easily under a regular toilet seat. Check out our video to see how it’s done.

Our raised toilet seat is even simpler, with a tool-free assembly that screws onto the lid of round or elongated toilet. You can find a step-by-step guide here.

Q: Does Medicare cover toilet handrails?

A: Medicare Part B covers items classified as durable medical equipment. While our bathroom safety aids are certainly durable, they are not considered medically necessary. This means you may have to pay out of pocket for a raised toilet seat or hand rail. Check with your doctor for the most up to date information.

Q: How do you measure for a raised toilet seat?

A: The first step when sizing a raised toilet seat is understanding whether you have a round or elongated toilet. You can often tell just by looking--round toilets are circular while elongated toilets are elliptical. Then, simply make sure to buy the corresponding product. All of our raised toilet seats come in both rounded and elongated styles.

Need More Help?

Get more information on all Vive Health products by talking to our customer service and product specialists. Call between 8:30am and 9pm EST daily at 1-800-487-3808 or email us at service@vivehealth.com

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