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MIL is having trouble remembering to sit back on the toilet seat when she pees. She ends up wet and getting it on the floor. Does anyone have any helpful ideas? TIA.

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Tell her (and show her) , not to sit down until she feels the toilet on the back of her legs . Same as sitting in a chair. Sit when she feels the edge of the chair on her legs . This is what PT told my mother after her stroke . It worked so she didn’t slide off and sit on the floor .

Go with her to help her learn .
Good Luck .
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to waytomisery
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Trouble remembering.. or trouble with physical strength to shuffle back?

My LO would do same. Plonk down hard & sit on the edge. Has has lost glute & core muscle strength to sit gently or wiggle back.

PT recommended doing sit-to-stand exercises, every day.

If MIL is wearing pads, could she hold this in front to protect clothing?

Having continence accidents due to mobility, positioning or unable to manage clothing is called *Fuctional Incontinence* I believe.

See if there is a Continence Advice Helpline or Clinic in your area. I found a service like that & they were extremely helpful & had many tips.
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Reply to Beatty
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waytomisery Sep 29, 2024
Another possible reason …. My mother had lost some spatial awareness .
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1. Buy a red toilet seat. This will help with spatial awareness. We also put red tape (in designs)
on the underside of toilet seat lid that you see when it is lifted up. This also helps with spatial awareness.
I think on one toilet we put some red adhesive lobsters that are meant for the bottom of bath tubs. We stuck these to the underside of the toilet seat lid so when lid if up you see the red lobsters. These also help with spatial awareness.

2. If you don't already have the ADA (taller) toilet have plumber install or get an adapter that
makes the standard seat taller.

Note: Mom could walk a couple of miles a day but she was scared to walk into the bathroom. She had lost the spatial awareness and the bathroom tile floor was white. In her brain she interpreted that as glass that you would fall through. She literally would stand at the entrance
of the bathroom and not want to walk in. Generous use of the color red throughout the bathroom really helped. I think we bought red towels also.

3. Is there a wall or wall next to the toilet in which grab bars can be installed? A physical therapist can advise in the home on the perfect placement. Run some red tape every couple of inches around the grab bar. This will also help with spatial awareness.
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Reply to brandee
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Thank you everyone!
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Reply to Semelio
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We added arm rest to the toilet. If your holding onto the tops of the arm rests, you'll be far enough back. They are very simple to install.
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Reply to jwellsy
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