How To Help With A Commode Chair / Urinal

Sometimes the person you’re caring for might need help using the toilet. If they aren’t able to walk to the washroom, using a bedside commode (a chair that you can put anywhere that has a pot to catch waste so it can be used as a toilet) or urinal can be a good option.

Helping someone use the toilet can be embarrassing for both of you, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this video we’ll review the steps you’ll need to help the person you’re caring for use a commode or urinal safely

Let’s try it!

Some things you’ll need are a urinal or commode chair. You can usually purchase or rent these from your local home health pharmacy.

You’ll also need some toilet paper, wet wipes or special cloths for cleaning their genitals

If they’re using a urinal, a waterproof bed pad or towel will be good to have as well
To use a commode, make sure the pot is in place and put the commode at their bedside, making sure the brakes are on the bed and commode if they have them.

From here assist the person you’re caring for to transfer from the bed onto the commode chair, assist them to lower their pants while they’re standing.

Click here to see a video on how to transfer someone safely.

Leave toilet paper with them and step out of the room to give them some privacy, stay close by in case they need some help.

Assist them to wipe up, get dressed, help them back to bed and wash their hands.

Empty the commode pot in the toilet and wash well with soap and water.

Put the pot back in the commode and it’s ready for the next time they need to use it. A urinal is a bottle with a handle made to urinate in.

To help someone use a urinal, put a towel or waterproof bed pad under them and help position the urinal so that urine can easily flow into the bottle.

It may help to have them lay on their side if laying on their back doesn’t seem to be working well without spilling.

Provide them some privacy and when they’re done, carefully remove the urinal, help them wipe up with a wet wipe, toilet paper or special care wipes and empty the urinal in the toilet.

Rinse the urinal well between uses, and wash daily with soap and water.

Finish up by washing your hands and helping them wash theirs.

Sometimes the person you’re caring for may not be able to stand to transfer or sit up on a toilet or commode. If this is the case you might need to assist with using a bedpan or an incontinence brief.
When someone needs help to use the toilet, the loss of privacy can be very difficult. Following these steps and providing as much privacy as you can help you both get through this awkward task.

For more videos like this, see our caregiver Essentials video series