The Complete Guide to Tall Toilets for Seniors

As senior citizens get older, their aged muscles become weaker or more prone to illnesses and conditions such as arthritis or frozen joints, the ability to squat or bend down onto a becomes exceedingly uncomfortable, not to mention difficult.  

Tall toilets, or comfort height toilets, as they are more commonly called, are pieces of assisted equipment that can greatly help seniors when they go to the bathroom and aid in numerous ways without compromising independence. 

These toilets come with seats that are slightly more elevated off the floor and have proven to be useful tools for senior citizens with reduced mobility who want to preserve their safety, health, and overall quality of life.

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All About Tall Toilets Height for Seniors

Seniors experiencing foot, thigh, hip, knee, joint, or back pain difficulties might benefit substantially from a tall comfort height toilet since they can expend less energy while getting on and off the toilet seat. Due to the additional height, these toilets are a suitable alternative for taller individuals who feel regular toilets are uncomfortable and too low for them.

An important point to note is that you don’t have to replace your entire toilet or commode with a tall toilet. There are different accessories and equipment which can be attached to your existing toilet as extensions and provide the same benefits.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if your senior has constipation often or is a regular bathroom-goer, then a tall toilet could actually prove to be detrimental to their health. This is because the bowels have easier motion when the body is in a squat position and the knees are above one’s hips.

Tall toilets aren’t the best for shorter individuals, either. Dangling legs while using these toilets could make for numb legs or a pins and needles sensation, or soreness in the calves or thighs. 

A step stool or toilet seat lift can easily solve both the aforementioned problems, though, as long as your senior is in a suitable position. If you wish, you could avoid a tall toilet entirely and install a railing next to your existing toilet which your senior can hold on to.

As one of the most trustworthy resource banks for seniors and caregivers, we’ve taken the liberty to make a list of the comfort height toilets for every type of individual so that you and your senior find the perfect tall toilet for your home.

Best Extra Tall Toilets for Elderly Users

Convenient Height 20 Inch Extra Tall Toilet

As the name suggests, this tall toilet is super convenient and full of height. It measures a full 20 inches from the floor all the way up to the rim, which ensures compact but comfortable seating through its compact elongated bowl. 

The 20 Inch Extra Tall Toilet comes with dual-flush technology (up and down for different flushing modes) and makes things extra safe for seniors with a slow-closing seat so nobody gets their fingers caught. 

TOTO CST744SL Drake 2-Piece ADA Toilet

This tall toilet is another popular model from industry giant TOTO. The Drake 2-Piece is ADA-compliant, which means that it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, approving all products that are safe for those with disabilities and, of course, many senior citizens. 

The Drake 2-Piece is great for seniors as well as taller individuals and is popular among those who use wheelchairs. It comes with a fast flush refill, and although it is loud, it does not require to be cleaned often. 

TOTO is a renowned brand, and this particular product is backed by a reliable warranty for one year by the company.

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Woodbridge T-0001 Dual Flush Elongated One Piece Toilet

If you want something that fits in the luxury and premium bracket, look no further. This Woodbridge model is, as the name suggests, made of one-piece construction. 

It’s exceptionally sturdy, with a comfortable height that’s comparable to the chairs and seats already in your home, which makes standing and sitting very easy. Due to its smooth design, cleaning is no problem. 

The Woodbridge T-0001 doesn’t need maintenance often, and its quiet yet powerful performance will make you feel like it’s not even there. It’s extremely water-efficient as well, so while you do have to invest in the product itself, you’ll be saving on your water bill. 

American Standard 2886518.020 H2Option Siphonic Dual-Flush Right Height Elongated Toilet

American Standard is another industry giant that brings us a wide array of tall toilets. We, however, have gone with the H2Option Siphonic Dual-Flush Right Height Elongated Toilet. 

Just like the name, the flush on this model is immense, so you won’t have to worry about clogs. However, its Water-Sense feature will help you save water at the same time. 

At 16.5 inches tall, it has two buttons on the top that allow you to pick either a full or partial flush. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to buy the seat separately with this particular model. 

Kohler K-3589-0 Cimarron Comfort-Height Elongated Toilet

Kohler is quite simply the king of toilets. This model is quite similar to the Toto Drake we mentioned earlier, although you don’t have to buy a seat separately with this model – it comes in the box. 

The Cimarron has a one-year warranty. It’s quite efficient on water usage and refills reasonably quickly too, which means the chances of clogging are unlikely. 

This unit is very well-built, so durability shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a quiet toilet that’s popular, trustworthy, and gets the job done. From Kohler, you can’t really ask for more.

AquaSense Raised Toilet Seat with Lid

As we mentioned earlier, it’s not necessary for you to completely replace your existing toilet with a new tall toilet, especially if your senior is on the shorter size or suffers from constipation or other issues. 

For households like this, we recommend the AquaSense Raised Toilet Seat. It comes with a lid and has clamps to hold the seat firmly in place. 

It’s easily removable if multiple people use the same bathroom and choose not to use it. Putting it on and off should take no more than a few seconds. This lid is made of plastic and has been ergonomically designed to fit the body’s contours. 

It’s round in shape, so it should fit most toilets and adds an additional four inches on top of your existing toilet. It’s also super easy to clean and can take up to 300 pounds of weight.

Vive Raised Toilet Seat with Padded Handles

Vive gives us another raised toilet seat with extensions on the side that you can hold on to. They’re very soft, with padded foam to ensure additional grip. 

Providing an extra five inches of height and supporting up to 250 pounds, this raised toilet seat is suitable for both elongated toilets and round ones, so it should fit on any type of toilet you already have in your home. 

If you simply want the additional height and don’t want the handles, you can remove them without any hassle. The entire seat is removable too. When not in use, you can take it off before clamping it back on again using the adjustable knob on the front.

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Final Thoughts

We recommend that you take a deeper look at the products we’ve listed above to ensure you end up buying the right tall toilet for you. If possible, go to a store with your senior or sit down and have a conversation with them so that you understand exactly what they need. 

If you wish to forego any of the above options entirely, a simple railing or a step stool should help ease bowel movements and give your senior an easier, more comfortable experience in the bathroom.

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