How to use commode splash guard you –
- remove the commode bucket from your bedside commode
- place the bedside commode over your toilet – making sure you have adjusted the bedside commode to the right height first
- lift the bedside commode seat into the upright position
- place the splash guard into the commode bucket holder
- put the bedside commode seat back down in position
- the splash guard will now be correctly installed for use
As I said at the outset, if you are not using the bedside commode as a raised toilet seat over a toilet, you won’t need the splash guard.
You may also not need to use a splash guard when you are using your bedside commode over the toilet if you don’t have it raised more than a couple of inches.
My mom has had her bedside commode over the toilet for several years now, and at 1 1/2 inches above the normal seat height there has been no need for us to use a splash guard at all.
Contents Overview & Quicklinks
Bedside commodes, which can use a splash guard
The only bedside commodes which are sometimes going to use splash guards are those which can be used over a toilet.
The types of bedside commode which have models which can go over toilets are –
Stacking bedside commode
Static stacking bedside commode
You will need to have a model which has adjustable height legs, such as –
Aidapt Essex height adjustable commode, Prod. No. VR161 – max seat height 22.22 inches
3-in-1 or All-in-One bedside commodes
3 in 1 bedside commode
3-in-1, also known as All-in-One commodes, are specifically designed to be placed over toilets.
3-in-1 commodes have adjustable height legs with a height range typically from 17″ to 22 1/2 “.
Examples of 3-in-1 commodes –
Performance Health Briggs heavy-duty commode, Prod. No. 081437862 – max seat height 23 inches
TFI Healthcare wide 3-in-1 commode w/ elongated seat, Prod. No. 3224G – max seat height 22.25 inches
TFI Healthcare drop arm commode w/ elongated seat, Prod. No. 3225 – max seat height 22.25 inches
Tuffcare extra wide drop arm commode chair, Prod. No. M470 – max seat height 24 inches
Drop Arm Commodes
Static drop arm bedside commode
Drop arms, as a feature, are also found on some 3-in-1 commodes, shower chair bedside commodes, and on transport bedside commodes.
A drop arm allows for side transfer onto a commode.
The static drop arm commodes (basically a 3-in- commode with drop arms) can also be used –
- as a bedside commode
- as a toilet safety frame
- as a raised toilet seat over a conventional toilet
Drive Medical deluxe steel drop arm commode, Prod. No. 11125KD-1 – max seat height 24 inches
Guardian drop arm bedside commode, Prod. No. 98202 – max seat height 23.5 inches
Homecraft heavy-duty drop arm commode, Prod. No. 081611110 – max seat height 20.75 inches
Lumex drop arm 3-in-1 commode, Prod. No. 6433A – max seat height 22.75 inches
Transfer bench commode
Transfer bench bedside commode
Transfer bench commodes, which have adjustable leg height, can be installed over a toilet as a raised toilet seat.
Some examples are –
300 lb – Carex transfer bench and commode, Prod. No. 081295278
300 lb – Nova padded transfer bench with commode, Prod. No. 9073
Transport Commodes
Attendant transport bedside commode
Self-propelling transport commode
Transport commodes come in two types – “attendant” which requires pushing by a carer, or “self-propelling” which displaced by the user.
Not all transport bedside commodes can be used over a toilet due to structural issues, but a supplier will always be able to tell you if you can use one over a toilet.
Always remember to lock the wheels when using a transport commode in a static position.
Shower transport commodes
Attendant shower transport bedside commode with four small wheels
Attendant shower transport bedside commode with medium sized rear wheels
Self-propelling shower transport bedside commode
Shower transport bedside commodes (these names don’t get any simpler !) come in the same two types as the transport bedside commodes – “attendant” and “self-propelling”
Not all will go over a toilet to be used as a raised toilet seat, so do check with a supplier.
And as with transport bedside commodes, lock the wheels in position when you are using the commode in a static position, such as over a toilet.
While you are looking for bedside commodes, there is lots more that you can do to make your bathroom a safer place for seniors, or anyone else with mobility issues.
To find out all the different things you can do, to have an instant impact on bathroom safety, take a look here, “54 Bathroom Safety Tips For Seniors – A Helpful Guide”.
How to set up a 3 in 1 portable bedside commode
Once you have taken the commode out of it’s packaging –
- start with the main frame and swing the legs out towards you, and the frame should be standing independently, but lacking a front crossbar
- attached to what you will have realized is the back of the chair frame is a metal commode bucket holder – it is attached to the back horizontal bar, between the legs, upon which the seat will rest
- swing up the bucket holder
- the two ends of the front horizontal holder bar of the bucket holder will clip into the joints in the sides of the two front legs at the level of the seat
- some commodes come with the seat back rest bar inserted into the top of the two back legs, if yours does not, you can just pop that into the joints at the tops of the back legs
- with the legs secured, you can now drop in the commode bucket into its holder – this is part of the bar the seat will rest on
- the plastic seat should simply clip onto the bar at seat level between the two back legs
- you do the same for the seat lid
- adjust the height of the legs by pushing in the spring-loaded buttons on each leg towards the middle/bottom
For safety –
Be sure that all spring-loaded buttons on the legs and all the joints are properly locked in place.
The buttons will make a clicking noise when they are pop out of a hole.
If a button is flush, or hardly out of a hole, it is not locked, and you need to wiggle the tubing around until it complies and pops out – it should make quite a load click.
And if you are want a post which covers all aspects of the different types of bedside commodes –
- the types
- set up
- who needs one
- using over a toilet
- liners emptying
- cleaning
- odor control
- where to buy
- top brands
- bedside commodes for larger people
- using over the toilet
- maintenance
- features
- sizes
- and more
You can find all of that in this article, “What is a bedside commode ?”.
How to install bedside commode over a toilet
To install a bedside commode over your toilet –
- lift out the bucket from the commode
- place the lid and the seat of your actual toilet in the upright position
- put the bedside commode next to your toilet to see how high you want to raise the commode seat above the toilet bowl level
- adjust the length of the commode frame legs to suit your requirements, by pushing in the metal buttons, and then by modifying the leg length
- the metal push buttons should make a loud click when they pop back out
- all four legs should be of the same length for safety
- do not make the legs so long that the user’s feet do not properly touch the floor – this can lead to falls when standing if the seat is too high
- once you have the legs and seat at the preferred height, place the commode over your toilet
- that’s it, you have installed the commode over the toilet
If you want to read more about this, I have written another post, “Can A Bedside Commode Be Used Over A Toilet ?” in which you can find out –
Which bedside commodes can be used over a toilet ?
- 3-in-1 bedside commodes
- Drop-arm bedside commodes
- Transfer, or rolling commodes
- Shower transfer commodes
A complete list of bedside commodes you can use over a toilet
- 25 Inch seat height
- 24 Inch seat height
- 23 Inch seat height
- 22 Inch seat height
- 21 Inch seat height
- 20 Inch seat height
- 19 Inch seat height
Bedside commode vs raised toilet seat
Using a splash guard
Now that you have the bedside commode placed over your toilet, you can use the splash guard –
- before you set the commode over the toilet you removed the commode bucket from its holder, and this is where you will be putting the splash guard
- lift the lid and seat of the bedside commode
- drop the splash guard into the commode bucket holder
- the splash guard will drop partially into the toilet bowl
- put the seat back down in its normal position
- the splash guard is ready for use with the bedside commode as a raised toilet seat
Do remember that, unless you are raising up the seat level by 3 – 6 inches, there really may be no need for a splash guard.
My mom has used her bedside commode as a raised toilet seat for at least two years now, and never needed to install the splash guard, and as the cleaner I have seen no need for it.
If the distance were raised to 6″, then maybe there would be a need for the splash guard.
If you don’t know much at all about bedside commodes, and you want to read more about using them, I have another article “Using A Bedside Commode: An Illustrated Guide”.
- How to use a bedside commode ?
- Where to position a bedside commode ?
- What supplies are needed next to the commode for after use ?
- How to stop a commode from tipping ?
- How to empty and clean a bedside commode ?
- Bedside commode odor control
- How to transfer to a bedside commode ?
- How to assist someone using a bedside commode ?
I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com
I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.
