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  • Home
  • Get Started
    • About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
    • Veterans with ALS
    • Caregivers
    • Family & Friends
    • Research & Treatment
    • Common Questions
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Medical Decisions
    • Care
    • Employment
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Equipment
    • Overview
    • Home & Daily Living
    • Bathroom
    • Mobility
    • Respiratory
    • Communication
  • Resources
    • Support Services
    • ALS Clinics
    • Support Groups
    • ALS Registry
    • Support the Cause
    • Resource List
    • Glossary
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Myna's Story
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us

ALS Toileting Devices


The following devices are used on or in place of a toilet. They are designed to help you be safe, comfortable, and more independent.

Commode chairs

portable toilets that can either be used at the bedside or placed over a standard toilet for more stability
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Indemedical: commode chair
  • Activeforever: commode chair
  • Stores like Walmart and CVS also have commode chairs.

How much will it cost?
​Commode chairs typically cost between $35 and $50. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

What else should I know?
  • Commode chairs have buckets that can be removed and cleaned.
  • When placing over a standard toilet for greater stability, the bucket may be removed.

Toilet-seat bidet

a toilet seat with an adjustable cleansing water spray for your genitalia and anus that can be installed on your existing toilet
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Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Amazon: bidet
  • Activeforever: bidet

How much will it cost?
​Toilet-seat bidets typically cost between $330 and $500. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

​
What else should I know?
  • A toilet-seat bidet is very helpful if you have weakness in your arms or hands.
  • Water can actually be more effective at cleaning you than toilet paper.
  • A toilet-seat bidet can help keep your independence.

Raised toilet seat with arms

an elevated toilet seat with handles that makes it easier to sit down and get back up
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Amazon: raised toilet seat with arms
  • Stores like Walmart and and CVS also sell raised toilet seats with arms.

How much will it cost?
​Raised toilet seats with arms typically cost between $30 and $60. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

Toilet safety frame

a frame with handles that makes it easier to sit down on the toilet and get back up
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Amazon: toilet safety frame

How much will it cost?
​Toilet safety frames typically cost between $30 and $45. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

Hinged raised toilet seat

an elevated seat that attaches to your toilet, lifts and lowers, and makes it easier to sit down and get back up
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Indemedical: hinged raised toilet seat
  • Walmart: hinged raised toilet seat

How much will it cost?
​Hinged raised toilet seats typically cost between $30 and $60. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

Rolling shower commode chair

a chair on wheels that can help you get safely from a bed or wheelchair to the shower and toilet
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Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Indemedical: rolling shower commode chair
  • Amazon: rolling shower commode chair

How much will it cost?
Rolling shower commode chairs typically cost between $140 and $300. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

What else should I know?
  • Rolling shower chairs are designed for roll-in showers—not showers with raised lips or tubs.
  • There are many different types of rolling shower chairs. The best chair for you will depend on how much room is in your roll-in shower and your upper extremity strength.
  • You can either relieve yourself directly into the chair’s pail or remove the pail and roll it over the toilet.

Tilt-in-space shower commode chair

a chair on wheels with multiple adjustment and support options that can help you get safely from a bed or wheelchair to the shower and toilet
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Indemedical: rolling shower commode chair (tilt-in-space)

How much will it cost?
​Tilt-in-space shower commode chairs typically cost between $1,000 and $3,500. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

What else should I know?
  • Rolling shower chairs are designed for roll-in showers—not showers with raised lips or tubs.
  • This tilt-in-space chair provides greater support than the standard rolling shower chair.
  • You can either relieve yourself directly into the chair’s pail or remove the pail and roll it over your toilet.
  • There are many different types of rolling shower chairs. The best chair for you will depend on how much room is in your roll-in shower and your upper extremity strength.

Male and female urinal

a portable bottle used for urination
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​Where can I get one?
  • Try your local ALS Association loan closet first.
  • Walgreens (online): male urinal, female urinal
  • Local stores like Walmart and CVS also sell portable urinals.

How much will it cost?
​Male and female urinals typically cost between $10 and $15. Medicare does not cover them. Medicaid and private insurance typically do not either. If one is not available from a loan closet, you will need to pay out of pocket.

What else should I know?
  • If getting out of your bed or wheelchair has become difficult, portable urinals can be convenient and help you save energy.
  • Portable urinals allow men and women to urinate in any position, whether in a bed or wheelchair.
  • You can use them in public restrooms if getting on and off a toilet is difficult.
  • Portable urinals are easy to hold and designed with leak-proof seals. They are intended to be washed and reused.
  • Many people find them more helpful than bedpans.

External male condom catheter

a rubber seal that fits over your penis and drains through a tube into a bag strapped to your leg
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​Where can I get one?
  • Condom catheters will be prescribed at your ALS clinic appointment and the order will be sent to a Medicare provider.  
  • Delivery can take 5-7 business days. The DME provider will contact you to make delivery arrangements.

How much will it cost?
External male condom catheters typically cost between $10 and $15. Medicare will cover 80% of the cost. The remaining 20% should be covered by Medicaid and private insurance. If you don’t have Medicaid and/or private insurance, you may have a co-pay.

What else should I know?
  • Condom catheters are external. Nothing is inserted into your penis.
  • They allow you to urinate in any position—standing, sitting, or lying down.
  • Condom catheters can help you sleep better through the night without getting up to go to the bathroom.
  • They can also be extremely helpful when you are out of the home, need to urinate, and lack an easy way to get to a toilet.
  • Condom catheters are not reusable or rewashable. Medicare will pay for 35 external catheters per month.
  • ​Size does matter—when it comes to fitting your catheter. If you get the wrong size, you may experience unpleasant leaking. Use a sizing chart.

Back to Bathroom Equipment


Equipment Safety

​Consult your physical or occupational therapist before buying or using any medical equipment. Also ask your local ALS Association chapter to assess your equipment needs.

To avoid unnecessary injuries, you and your caregiver(s) should receive training from your physical or occupational therapist on how to safely and properly use each piece of equipment.
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Get Started

About ALS
​Newly Diagnosed
People with ALS
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Caregivers
Family & Friends
​​Research & Treatment
Common Questions

Planning

Health Insurance
Medical Decisions
Care

Employment
Transportation

​Home Modifications
​Travel
​

Equipment

Overview
​Home & Daily Living
Bathroom
Mobility
Respiratory
Communication​

Resources

Support Services
ALS Clinics

Support Groups
​
ALS Registry

​Support the Cause
Resource list
​Glossary

About

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