Up with loos!

You have no idea how reassured I am by all your posts!
Given that it’s not your average dinner table topic, I was worried it was “just me”. What a relief!(See what I did there?)

Disability Rights U.K. is where you can buy an official Radar Key. No questions are asked when purchasing. I have IBS so having a key like this takes the worry away of finding an available loo. I take the key with me everywhere.

I had been thinking the same about low slung loos mine is relatively new so I’m wondering why anyone would go out of there way to install one such, Is there some hidden benefit to them being so low?- that is apart from those in an infant school🤔

Thanks Nan Kate , I too have IBS , husband has Alzheimer's so this will be invaluable - just ordered one .

I know exactly what you're saying!

I don't know about the big places like London as I never go there but in other areas I've noticed it's really awkward and painful for me with my rheumatoid/osteo and painful back to sit on a loo because some are so low! I just have to squat over then ''throw'' myself on, clenching my teeth tight as pain rips through me then the same to stand up, rocking back and forth!

Thankfully I have a RADAR Key but not everywhere has disabled loos!

We're lucky where we live because there's normal loo's but there's also a disabled one at the TIC just over the road from the normal ones and I find I don't have any problem with the height of the normal ones!

I bought my RADAR Key from coopersofstortford.co.uk for £6.99 and they delivered it in a neat little package only 3 days later!

But some TIC's have free ones.

Oh, Gawd - another indignity of old age to look forward to!

That's so handy to know about premier inns..My 93 year old dad lives with us (we have all the disability aides here) but know if ever we went away overnight it would involve lots of research. Rooms that are joined would also be helpful but doubt they do that.

Why dont you all just stand over loo?

Our main bathroom has a higher loo than those in our en-suite or downstairs, it's quite my favourite. I have become aware how low some are and my preference now is very much for a higher one definitely.

In Italy a few years ago the only loo we could find was SO LOW it was almost on the floor. Ridiculous. Actually we had real difficulty finding anywhere at all and, when we did, it wasn't very nice. How are things done in other countries? It actually puts me off going to some places. For goodness sake, everyone has to go so why aren't there nice ones everywhere? I don't even mind paying as long as they are single-sex, clean and spacious.

When I was expecting my first child ( 50 years ago. Dear Lord) I had to go into hospital a month early as he appeared not to be growing properly. My stomach was churning and I desperately needed the loo.
It was pointed out to me
And I waddled up very quickly and hurtled in. I couldn’t find the light switch, but managed to locate it. I sat down on the (very low) loo. Just in time. The inevitable happened. I just sat, merely relieved that I’d made it.
As my eyes became accustomed to the gloom I realised there was another loo, a taller one, next to mine. I thought it marvellous that there were different heights, but regretted getting on the lower one at 5ft 9 and 8 months gone. When the bowels had calmed I found the light switch and as the tiny
room lit up I realised I was sitting on the bidet.
A search party was eventually sent out just as I’d finished
the clean up. I never even told my husband ( and I certainly won’t be telling him now, 40 years post divorce )

2oaktrees

Why dont you all just stand over loo?

With my knees, that's not going to happen. Also, I wish other people wouldn't as they always seem to splash on the seats.

Similar to the Macmillan card mentioned, i have an Age UK card that states"I can't wait" and you show this to get access. Some places don't have RADAR keys fitted - but i learned that this is because the disabled WC has to conform to specific measurements. However there is usually a key for these at the nearest help/reception areas.

Some hilarious tales on here!
Interestingly I recently read that folk who have trouble with constipation, would find things in that department easier on a low or normal height loo rather than the higher disabled ones.

Polwal - Premier Inn do do adjoining rooms, which are normally on the ground floor

Thanks for a good laugh Alex.
My problems are the other way round.
At 4'10" I have the opposite problem. After a long stay in hospital (I'll spare you the details) the hos[ital sent someone to assess my home to see if it was suitable for me to return to.
I was informed by a really pleasant young lady that they'd adapted my loo and easy chair so that they suited my needs as well as putting rails up for me to climb the steps to my front door and I was really grateful.
I was really grateful, until I got home.
The loo had a raised plastic seat, but by the time I'd climbed onto it I'd soiled or wet myself and my feet wouldn't reach the floor. Life is difficult if your feet don't reach the floor especially if you get constipated as well as the other way.
My lovely reclining armchair that cost a fortune and was made-to-measure, had ugly 6" legs attached and my feet swung off the floor once more.
One size doesn't fit all.

We are both taller people and I had knee problems so when we replaced the toilets (up and downstairs) we fitted them on a frame and you could choose what height you wanted. This also meant the toilet was raised off the floor and it is easy to mop underneath.

My DH is in a wheelchair and yesterday we had to take our car into a garage an hours drive away to have the wheelchair hoist repaired, there was a waiting area, with a sign saying there was a disabled loo. I didn't think to go down to check it first and it was totally unsuitable for anyone in a wheelchair or even with mobility problems in general, , it was down a narrow corridor with a sharp bend when he got in the grab rails had been removed, and were on the the windowsill🤷 he could not transfer from his chair to the loo and you could not close the door with the wheelchair in the room, all it was was a slightly longer room than the other loos there It was a joke, this garage deals with adaptations to cars for disabled people, so they probably have plenty of disabled people going there. On the bright side there was a " nice picture" at floor level in the corner.🤐

I have the same problem finding the toilets too low when you have dodgy knees. I try to find one with bars on the wall, otherwise I’m not sure I will be able to get up.

Woollywoman

Polwal - Premier Inn do do adjoining rooms, which are normally on the ground floor

I don't think one of these would be a disabled-friendly room though, if that's what's required.

I asked for adjoining rooms for Dad and us recently, phoned the Premier Inn we were going to stay at and was assured it was all arranged. I was even given the room numbers.
On arrival this wasn't the case, and the adjoining room I'd been told we'd have was actually a family room which had now been given to people with children. Obviously they couldn't be asked to move.

Eventually the receptionist found us two standard rooms next door to each other, so I only had to pop out into the corridor to get to Dad.
I asked for an extra door key so I had one to come and go and we could leave the other one in his electricity slot.
We managed pretty well!

The loos in Antrim mall are incredibly low. I actually thought I'd gone into a child cubicle. 😅

62Granny that's appalling 😳
Did you feel able to tell the staff how inadequate their facilities are?

Does the garage hold some disability-friendly accreditation?
You could let the awarding body know.

I read that it's supposed to be healthy to have a low level loo (allegedly more natural) but since I had my knee replacement, I have to sort of drop down and getting up again can be interesting!

I wonder how people manage with those squat style loos abroad? French campsites always had them in the 1960s.

Well remember going to bathroom showroom with our builder to choose our fixtures in 2022. Sales rep. basically ignored me only to talk to the men, obviously over my head all of this.
So, off I went to check out all the displays. All was well until I sat on a loo, tried the next display, same thing, either I had suddenly grown or I was back at Primary School !
Once pointed out to sales rep he looked totally confused as did builder. Turned out , after I went through the brochures, I required "comfort " loos ie a reasonable height for an adult as opposed to a 4 year old. Builder had never heard the term and we still laugh at how ridiculous it was. Of course we all would prefer being uncomfortable when doing the necessary !