Up with loos!

2oaktrees

Why dont you all just stand over loo?

Do you mean astride the loo, with one leg each side? Not ideal for several reasons -
- A short person would need to be a contortionist to get their legs that far apart.
- Tensing some muscles to stand or to crouch in uncomfortable positions is not conducive to relaxing others to release urine.
- Given that many women who have had children have a tendency to spray in unpredictable directions, it would be a recipe for peeing all over the seat - not very nice for the next person.
- If God or Gaia had designed us to stand up to pee, they would have fitted us with a suitable hosepipe.

I bought a pack of three radar keys from Amazon. They only cost me about £5.

I bought my radar key from Amazon, they come in a pack of three.

I hadn't heard of radar keys either! What a great idea (off to look).

I can thoroughly relate to all of this - bad knees and low loos. I just about manage with ours at home by holding onto the basin. But in other places I'm in the habit of just not sitting on the seat! I can hold a squat better than getting up from a low seat but also maybe a habit from my Mother telling me never to sit on the seats in public places in case of germs!

Harmonypuss

When I bought my radar key (about 20yrs ago), I was asked to provide proof of my disability.
These days, anyone can get one, as a ppl has stated, they're freely available on eBay and Amazon, so anyone can have one.
This being the case, what advantage is there to someone disabled having one when so many non-disabled have them?

Many disabled loos here are locked, so a key is still necessary. If you don't have a radar key, you are in trouble.

Disabled public toilets in some Ayrshire resorts require a radar key.

I have noticed in pubs, that you often have to ask at the bar for the key (not a radar one). A tad embarrassing, asking at a crowded bar.
Recently I used a disabled loo in a restaurant in Edinburgh, it was being used to stack chairs! 🤬

Nanna8, we don't have radar keys here as far as I know because we don't need them. I have never come across a disabled loo that is locked.

I'm currently at a hotel in the Netherlands and the loos are high! Too high for me, and even for my husband. Everything is placed high that I can hardly reach - hooks, towel rail, etc.

I used to work as a learning support assistant in a school with a disabled student unit. On one occasion I accompanied a disabled student on a camping holiday doing bushcraft along with another colleague. We were used to assisting her to go to the loo, usually just making sure she was safely in then leaving her in relative privacy. On the camp site the loos were of a portaloo type and the disabled one was only slightly larger than the others so our student couldn't get the wheelchair in. Fortunately she could walk a few steps, but on reaching the grab rail by the loo she found it was not fixed in place so came away in her hand! We had to stay in this tiny cubicle with her while she used the loo, turning our backs and whistling! Thankfully the site did fix it when we complained! On another occasion I went to Paris on a school trip with the same student and a different colleague. We found it was very difficult to find disabled loos in Paris and had great difficulty getting three people into a regular loo cubicle!. Our student was very resilient and used to us giving her personal care but the indignity of these things should not be something disabled people have to experience.
I'm still able to cope with a low loo, unless I've done too much weeding in the garden and strain the muscles in the back of my legs, but I think I may invest in a radar key to future proof myself. When I worked with disabled students before I retired I always had access to one. The height of the loo is something I will definitely bear in mind if I ever replace any of my sanitaryware!

When I bought my radar key (about 20yrs ago), I was asked to provide proof of my disability.
These days, anyone can get one, as a ppl has stated, they're freely available on eBay and Amazon, so anyone can have one.
This being the case, what advantage is there to someone disabled having one when so many non-disabled have them?

Buy a radar key on eBay!

My friend nipped into a disabled loo, this male security guard opened the door whilst she was sat on the loo, knickers around her ankles, he asked why she was using a disabled toilet when she was clearly not disabled, she replied “ do you think we could finish this conversation outside when I am finished 🤣

2oaktrees

Why dont you all just stand over loo?

My bladder nurse said never to stand or crouch over a loo, you have to sit properly on the seat- I just bought liners to go around the loo seat online

The loos in Antrim Mall are so low I thought I'd accidentally used a child sized toilet.

Some years ago ex-hubby and I had new loo put in by a friend who had a plumbing business, and he put in a loo shaped 1-2 inch high wooden stand for the loo. It was just the job and surely relatively easy to do?

choughdancer

I'm a hoverer too, and much prefer them to be on the low side, as I'm only 5ft. I definitely can't hover over a higher disability one.

If I absolutely HAVE to sit on a public loo, I clean the seat with loo paper squirted with soap, then with water, then dry; I just can't bear the thought of sitting on them uncleaned. I did the same for my children too once they got too heavy to be held above them.

40 odd years ago I lived for a while in the Middle East, and hated the hole in the floor ones. I had to spend time in hospital a couple of times, and dreaded having to have to use them; they always seemed to be swimming with water, and it was hard to keep my dressing gown out of it. Most of the other ladies were wearing abayas; not sure how they managed!

I'm sure I've exaggerated it in my mind, but I still often dream about needing a loo, and searching through endless areas of filthy holes in the floor trying to find somewhere acceptable. Often these dreams end in me sitting on the loo after I've found it, only to see that the walls all around me are made of glass!

Apologies if I've put anyone off their tea!

We have spent time in the mid east and also found the holes in the floor difficult. They use a hose by the side of the hole to wash themselves so water goes all over, it might make the person cleaner but not the sluiced off stuff on the floor.
Never could get on with it.

NannyMags

@nanna8 where do you call home, if I may ask?

I think she is in Australia.

I am pleased this issue has been
raised. Ladies loo seats in public places are far too low, countless times I have really struggled. Obviously it is because this issue is decided by MEN who don't have the same needs. It should be a health and safety issue that lavatories in the "ladies" should be of a certain height. I wonder how many ladies have had to be rescued from these tortuous facilities.

My OH has a radar key because he suffers from ulcerative colitis and when he has a flare up he needs the loo pronto xx

@nanna8 where do you call home, if I may ask?

Deedaa

My friend and I went up to London to see the Biba exhibition. When we got back to Waterloo we had quite a long wait for our train so I decided to find a loo. The station Ladies was closed for refurbishment and, when we asked a nice Indian security lady where we should go, she pointed to a line of Glastonbury style temporary loos on the other side of the road. When she saw our faces she said "I do have a key for the disabled toilet if you would like to use that" Bliss! High seat, lots of handles to grab hold of, and really hot water to wash in.

There's also room for handbag, shopping etc ... Some loos are so small you can hardly tuck your vest in your knickers!

RADAR keys are not just for obvious disabilities, if anyone has trouble.with the loos in a place then don't feel.bad about using one. There are various bowel or urinary issues for.example, or temporary issues
I've used a radar key when for whatever reason there are no other loos available, I do not.want.to continue suffer with cystitis, or wet myself or heaven forbid, need to hide behind the loo.
As for high seats and other people using the loo, I have a squatty potty/stquateasy step that makes things easier, also easy for avoiding constipation if you don't have hip issues

It is the getting down that is my problem!!

After a hip replacement a few years ago I was sent to an exercise class with other hip and knee folk.

I remember the physiotherapist stressing the importance of muscle strengthening exercises, stating how important strong muscles are in maintaining independence in later life.

I remember she actually used getting on and off loos as a very good example, saying that once the ability to do that unaided has gone independence is also lost.

It made quite an impression on me, and even now I make a point of getting up from the loo without holding on to anything.

baubles

*Auntieflo*, yes probably but sadly the world and his wife could also get in at any time which makes the visit a tad stressful.

Perhaps I should get an ‘Occupied’ sign made and stick it on the outside of the door.

I have never realised that Baubles.

The outside locks on the ones I have used recently turn red on the outside. I noticed this, after recently waiting outside two disabled toilets for twenty minutes, it turned out to be mums changing/ feeding their babies.

I thought I was going to have an embarrassing accident!

Auntieflo, yes probably but sadly the world and his wife could also get in at any time which makes the visit a tad stressful.

Perhaps I should get an ‘Occupied’ sign made and stick it on the outside of the door.