During the later stages of Parkinson’s Disease, simpler tasks such as brushing your teeth, combing your hair, showering, or using the restroom can soon become dreadful and difficult. The changes to your bathroom routine can differ greatly depending on the stage of Parkinson’s you’re in, however it’s almost a guarantee that in the later stages such as four and five, bathroom aids and toileting aids are needed.

Bathing and Grooming Aids

Bathroom aids can consist of anything between weighted toothbrushes to a portable shower head. At first, thinking you might need an aid in the bathroom department can feel defeating, but not all of these aids are meant for using the restroom. Many of them are to make the motions of raising a hand or transferring into the shower much easier and smoother.

  • Universal Weighted Holder – This can give a healthy weight to a toothbrush or a razor, offering a bigger and tighter grip to prevent dropping, clenching, and misuse.
  • Soaper Sponge Bath Sponge – Provides an easier, more flexible way of bathing as the sponge holds a small bar of soap so there’s no more hassle fighting with the soap or reaching in difficult areas.
  • Dependa-Bar Grab Bar – A transportable bar that can be placed in the shower, near the toilet, or in a tub to aid in transfers around the bathroom. This product is great when lacking balance or feeling dizzy.
  • Body Care Long Handle Brushes and Combs – A painless way to comb or brush your hair without reaching too far and straining your shoulder.

Toileting Aids

Here’s when things get a little trickier. As Parkinson’s Disease progresses, there’s a very real chance that most days are either spent in a wheelchair or in bed. This can lead to complications when wanting to be independent using the restroom. Here’s a couple things to gain some independence back.

  • Hinged Elevated Toilet Seat – This product aims to offer comfort and more stability for the user, making it less dangerous to sit down and get back up.
  • URSEC Spillproof Male Urinal – A portable, lightweight, spillproof urinal for men to use in bed, wheelchairs, or scooters to take away the stress of having to stand and keep balance for long periods of time.
  • SUNzyme Natural Stain & Odor Control – A natural nontoxic formula that takes away the stain and covers odors from urination, which can accidentally happen in the later stages of Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Disease can start off relatively mild with very moderate side effects but as the disease ages with you, it can truly change your life and all the daily routines with it. Don’t let Parkinson’s Disease control the way you want to live, take control of PD by finding helpful resources that can make those once simple tasks easier again.