She will walk as far as being in front of it and looking at it but will not turn around and sit. We usually stand there and hug and then I kind of dance with her and turn her around . This can take at least five minutes or more. Once she is turned around and has one hand on the safety rail on the wall and one on the toilet hand rail she sits down very nicely and she is ok.
This is has been going on for almost a year. I have removed a little basket from the back of the toilet that I had all her toiletries in thinking that might be scaring her but that didn't help. She doesn't do it all the time, but most of the time.Thanks for any suggestions.
As far as the sitting on the toilet goes, I think you've probably got the best plan for now. Like you say, it might be different tomorrow.
Now, it is sometimes difficult when they get her in and out of the facility's transport van when at the doctor's office. The aid will stand behind her and say this arm up, this foot up, etc. to gently guide her into the van, but sometimes she just can't make her limbs work right. She may sit down in the floor or just turn around the wrong way. She gets so frustrated that she can't just sit in the seat. She may start to cry or say she is sorry. It's so sad.
I noticed that she did worse when I was standing there watching. When I walked away she did better. Is there anyone who can try the bathroom trip in your place and see if she is any better? I know, that may not be an option. Still, it's amazing how my presence must have made my cousin more excited. I don't see her every day, so maybe that is why.
Good luck and let us know how things are going. It's such a challenge. It's no fun taking care of a toilet chair. I admire you.
My cousin can get in and out of her wheelchair, but it's very slow going. We must say move this foot and tap on that foot. Right or left have no meaning. We then wait, then repeat. This goes on for some time. I'm not sure of any way to get around it. Their brain is not cooperating with them. For a person with
dementia, I don't think 5 minutes is unreasonably long to get them into the bathroom.
I have demonstrated what I want my cousin to do, but even then she usually has trouble. Like, putting on gloves. She can't do that anymore, so we don't try. Now she is incontinent, but the facility will place her on the toilet at regular times just in case, she wants to go.