There are thousands of people throughout the United States who have different levels of disability. Those people may find it very hard to practice bathroom hygiene on their own, but they shouldn’t have to get help every time they need to use the toilet. After all, this process is very private, and needing help is a serious loss in dignity. For these people, who have conditions like ALS, bidets can be extremely helpful.
There are thousands of people throughout the United States who have different levels of disability. Those people may find it very hard to practice bathroom hygiene on their own, but they shouldn’t have to get help every time they need to use the toilet. After all, this process is very private, and needing help is a serious loss in dignity. For these people, who have conditions like ALS, bidets can be extremely helpful.
Because bidets haven’t gained popularity in America like they have in Europe, you may not know much about them and how they can be so useful for people with disabilities. “Bidets are bathroom fixtures designed for cleaning one’s private parts, and they come in three basic varieties: free-standing, sit-down fixtures, and two-in-one bidet/toilet combination fixtures; or seat-like attachments that fit on top of an existing toilet.” (Davidson, 2011)
The Difference
Because bidets use streams of water, they eliminate the need for wiping with toilet paper. People with disabilities may not be able to wipe by themselves or they may not be able to get clean enough. They may either be left unhygienic or requiring the help of someone else.
Bidets are hands-free. Once the jets are turned on, the bidet will do all the work. This is much, much easier for anyone who has a disability.
The Advantages
The advantages of a bidet over a standard toilet for people with disabilities include the following:
- They are more hygienic than using toilet paper, which doesn’t get anyone thoroughly clean. Additionally, bidets can prevent different infections.
- Because the user will not be wiping with toilet paper, they will not be in contact with bacteria and germs.
- Bidets can be operated without help for most people with disabilities. They will be able to get back their privacy and dignity.
- Bidets are much friendlier to the environment since they eliminate or drastically reduce the use of toilet paper.
As you can see, there are very good reasons for anyone to use a bidet, even if they don’t have disabilities. However, for those who do, a bidet should be considered an absolute must.
The Options
If you determine you would like to add a bidet for a family member or for yourself, then you do have different options. Of course, installing a free standing bidet will be the most expensive and could require bathroom renovations to make more space. However, this is an option if you would like.
A bidet seat will connect directly to your standard toilet. It is a low-cost choice that will ensure you are able to enjoy the functionality of a bidet without having to spend too much money. You won’t even have to change anything in your bathroom to install one of these.
You will need to determine which of these options will work best for your home and for your loved ones. Bidets also offer a variety of different features, so you will need to determine which options you would prefer.
If you have a loved one with disabilities, then they likely have trouble with toilet hygiene. If they depend on someone to come help, then they likely have no dignity or sense of privacy. They can get those things back thanks to a bidet seat.
These hygienic alternatives to a standard toilet are much easier to use and much healthier. The majority of disabled people could use a bidet on their own when they cannot manage their toilet hygiene traditionally. A bidet has many benefits, so it may be that the whole household decides to switch over to this hygienic alternative.
Works Cited
Davidson, M. (2011, March 31). Bidets: A Disability Friendly Way to Go. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from MDA Quest: http://quest.mda.org/article/bidets-disability-friendly-way-go
