Sit-to-Stand Toilets as an Option for Aging-in-Place Bathroom Installations
Lowe’s offers sit to stand toilets as an option for aging-in-place bathroom installations as part of the Lowe’s website Livable Home. According to their website, “Research shows that a quarter of falls take place in the bathroom, so assistive toilet seats with adjustable handlebars and seat heights — for safe and stable toilet transfers — are helpful when dealing with weakness and instability issues.”
“It’s common for individuals to easily sit down to go to the bathroom, but then they can’t get off the toilet,” says registered nurse Eboni I. Green, cofounder and CEO of Caregiver Support Services, based in Omaha, Nebraska. “Or if they have the ability to get off, they might grab on to an unsecure towel rack and can easily fall.”
It is important to note that not all sit-to-stand toilets comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for seat height above the floor. 2010 ADA Standard 604.4, [Toilet] Seats, states, “The seat height of a water closet [toilet] above the finish floor shall be 17 inches (430 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm) maximum measured to the top of the seat. Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position.” The graphic below is representative of this Standard.
ADA Compliant Toilet Seat Height
The 17-19 inch rule is important to remember when shopping for a toilet that is designed to help ambulatory (standing) disabled individuals to sit on a toilet, or, more importantly, stand up from a toilet. And this 17-19 inch installation is also important for individuals using a wheelchair for mobility. Individuals using a wheelchair are not so concerned about standing up from a toilet as they are transferring to/from their wheelchair.
So when shopping for a sit-to-stand toilet, make sure it is described as “ADA Compliant” and that the seat height above the floor is between 17-19 inches. Lookout for terms such as “custom height”, “comfort height”, and “chair height”. Toilets that use these terms to describe the seat height above the floor may not comply with the ADA.
Kohler Highline Toilet Photo from Wayfair
One example is the Kohler Highline White Elongated Custom Height 2-Piece Water-Sense Toilet. According to the website, “The Highline Tall is Kohler's tallest toilet – a full 2 inches taller than Comfort Height toilets to provide ultimate accessibility and ease of use. With its clean, simple design and efficient performance, this Highline water-conserving toilet combines both style and function. An innovative 1.28-gallon flush setting provides significant water savings of up to 16,500 gallons per year, compared to an old 3.5-gallon toilet, without sacrificing flushing power.” Sounds good right? But, in the specifications, the height of the seat above the floor is only 16.5 inches, yet this toilet is listed as a “sit-to-stand” model.
OVE Decors Beverly Elongated High Toilet Photo from Walmart
Another example of a sit-to-stand toilet on the Lowe’s Livable Home website is the OVE Decors Beverly white dual flush and elongated toilet. The photo on the left is representative. According to the website, “This model adds minimalist modern style to your bathroom, a roomier bowl, and ADA compliant height to prioritize your comfort and make standing and sitting easier. This toilet features a sleek skirted design, concealed trapway, overhang seat cover, and soft-close elongated seat. Powerful WaterSense certified dual flush technology eliminates the problems of older ball-chain flapper systems.” Other features include:
Eco-friendly dual flush at 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush
Includes sleek top center push-button flush mechanism in polished chrome
Soft-close elongated seat
Concealed trapway for more appealing look
Toilet ADA compliant for easier standing and sitting.
In fact, the specifications for this toilet shows the seat height above the finished floor at 18 inches. So this toilet does comply with the ADA for seat height, making it a good candidate for an ADA compliant sit-to-stand toilet.
Creating a safer and more accessible home should involve Universal Design (UD). The principles of UD contribute to the convenience and function of products and home spaces by making products and spaces safer, easier to use, and more accessible. Sit-to-stand toilets can help. For additional information about UD please see Universal Design.
Careful planning is important to creating a safer and more accessible home using UD. A safer and more accessible home should include aging-in-place considerations, such as sit-to-stand toilets.
Universal Design is a key part of aging-in-place home modifications. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) is trained in the application of UD for home modifications to help aging and disabled individuals remain in their homes longer. CAPS consultants and UD incorporate the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) into residential home design and modifications.
SUMMARY: Lowe’s offers sit to stand toilets as an option for aging-in-place bathroom installations as part of the Lowe’s website Livable Home. When shopping for a sit-to-stand toilet, make sure it is described as “ADA Compliant” and that the seat height above the floor is between 17-19 inches. A safer and more accessible home should include aging-in-place considerations, such as sit-to-stand toilets.
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Richard Acree is a CAPS consultant with many years of experience as a home inspector and accessibility inspector. For more information about aging-in-place services please see Residential Accessibility.
Please call 615-752-0060 or email at inspections4ada@gmail.com for help with aging-in-place home modifications for you or your loved one.
Thank you.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy or use any product or service offered or provided by Lowe’s or any other company or vendor. Consumers and contractors should do their own due diligence to determine what product or service best meets their needs.