Commodes: bedside, over-the-toilet and shower commode chairs

A commode is a chair with a toilet seat and a removable pail or bucket. It is not a glamorous purchase, but it can make nights safer, mornings calmer and recovery at home far easier, for the person who uses it and for anyone helping them. Commodes come in three broad styles, and some models do more than one job. This guide explains each type and the measurements to check.

Bedside commodes

A bedside commode stands on its own near the bed, so there is no need to walk to the bathroom at night. Many also fold or come apart for storage and travel.

Vive's Folding Commode is a good example of a dual-purpose design. It stands on its own beside the bed, or sits over most standard and elongated toilets so its arm rails give you something to hold. It supports up to 350 pounds on a coated steel frame, the handrails adjust from 24 to 30 inches high, the 7.5-quart pail has a cover and splash guard, and it folds flat without tools (Vive Health).

For larger users, Vive's Bariatric Commode is rated at 500 pounds. Vive says it can serve as a bedside commode, a safety rail toilet frame or an elevated toilet seat. It measures 27 inches wide at the armrests and the base, adjusts in height in 1-inch steps and folds for storage; the arms are fixed, and the back rail comes off (Vive Health).

A bedside commode may suit someone who can stand and pivot with or without help but finds the walk to the bathroom, especially at night, too far or too risky.

Over-the-toilet use

Placed over the toilet, some commode frames work as a raised seat with armrests. Both Vive commodes above are described by Vive for this use (Vive Health: Folding Commode, Vive Health: Bariatric Commode). That can be handy during recovery: one piece of equipment serves at the bedside at night and over the toilet during the day. Check the frame's width against the space on either side of your toilet before you order. If you only need help at the toilet, our guide to raised toilet seats and rails compares dedicated options.

Shower commode chairs

A shower commode chair has wheels and a frame made for wet rooms. It can be wheeled over the toilet, into a roll-in shower, or from the bedroom to the bathroom. It is usually pushed by a caregiver.

• Vive's Shower Commode Transport Chair works as a shower chair, a commode and a transport chair. The rust-resistant, latex-free aluminum frame supports up to 300 pounds and weighs 19 pounds; the 17 by 17 inch seat adjusts from 20.5 to 22.5 inches high, and the 4-inch wheels lock (Vive Health).
• Vive's Core Shower Commode Transport Chair does the same three jobs at 15 pounds, with a 275-pound capacity, a 21-inch seat height and a removable 12 by 9 by 6 inch bucket (Vive Health).

A shower commode chair may suit someone who cannot comfortably walk to the bathroom or stand to shower, and whose bathroom has a roll-in or low-threshold shower the chair can enter. Measure the shower entry and any threshold first, and make sure the chair can roll over it on its 4-inch wheels.

For children

Children have different needs. Smirthwaite's Combi Chair is a children's toileting chair that combines a potty and a commode seat in one frame, with an upholstered seat and a pelvic strap for support. It comes in four sizes, with maximum user weights from 77 pounds on size 1 to 143 pounds on size 4, and Smirthwaite says it is intended for indoor use only (Smirthwaite). A child's therapist can help choose the size.

What to measure and check

1. Weight. The capacities above range from 275 to 500 pounds. Choose one rated for the user with room to spare.
2. Seat height. The user should be able to sit with feet flat and stand without strain. Many frames adjust; check the range.
3. Width. Measure the space beside the bed or around the toilet, and any doorway a wheeled chair must pass through.
4. Arms. Fixed arms give a steady push-off point. If the person transfers sideways, ask whether the arms move out of the way; on the Bariatric Commode they do not.
5. Shower entry, for a wheeled shower commode chair.
6. Cleaning. Look for a pail or bucket that lifts out easily, with a lid. The Bariatric Commode's pail fits standard commode liners, according to Vive (Vive Health).

Warranties vary widely

Even similar products carry very different terms, so read them. Vive lists lifetime coverage on the Folding Commode, which it defines as the estimated lifetime of the product (Vive Health), and 60 days on the Bariatric Commode (Vive Health). Vive asks you to register its products within 30 days of purchase.

Dignity matters

Using a commode can feel like a loss of privacy, especially at first. Small things help: place it where it can be screened, keep supplies nearby, and let the person who uses it make as many of the choices as possible. Equipment that makes the night safer is a tool for independence, not a step backward.

Browse our bathroom safety collection, or email info@faithmobility.com for help choosing.

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Sources

• Vive Health: Folding Commode
• Vive Health: Bariatric Commode
• Vive Health: Shower Commode Transport Chair
• Vive Health: Core Shower Commode Transport Chair
• Smirthwaite: Combi Chair