Toilet transfer rail
Our client has a particular transfer method from his wheelchair to the toilet which requires a combination of a standard issue fold-down floor mounted support rail, and some sort of additional hand-hold near to the toilet cistern. For the latter, our client had tried a suction handle as shown below – but the tiles are a matt finish and this handle doesn’t stick as well as it would on other tiles and was prone to falling off. This handle was also too far back. The cistern lid is loose fitting so sticking the suction handle to that was also inappropriate. Other adaptation providers had been approached but couldn’t help – an additional factor being that these are large ceramic tiles on plasterboard with the accompanying risk of the tiles cracking if there was too much flexing as a result of a handle being mounted directly to them. Our client’s OT approached Remap for help.
The solution
The first step was to ensure the client had spare tiles, and that was the case – so any solution could involve an appropriately robust fixing method, and the tiles could be replaced in the future if the solution is no longer required.
It was decided in this case, to make use of the conveniently flat-topped modern cistern/toilet, and rest a plywood shelf on the top, but also supported on strong shelf brackets at either side to spread the load. The tiles were drilled with a small diamond grit core drill and guide, and turned spacers made which means the brackets are bearing on the solid wall behind, and not on the tiled surface. The void behind the plasterboard was exceptionally deep, and it needed 6 inch long screws to secure the brackets. The shelf was secured to the brackets with nuts/bolts so can easily be removed if access to the cistern is required.
The spacers showing just proud of the tile surface in the above photos.
The underside of the shelf which now secures the toilet flush.
The completed solution.
The benefit
Our client can feel more confident when transferring.
- Skills involved:
- Issues Addresses:
- Activities Helped:
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- Solution:
