I‘m surprised I have the chance to write this.  I’ve written to be wary of conventional wisdom in Aging in Place Design. But I didn’t expect substantiation of my dislike of higher toilets.
I am normal height. 5′-4″. Some people see my height as short. High toilets make me feel like a kid whose feet don’t touch the ground. (Cause they don’t.)
But that is not my important reservation about higher toilets. Look at this:
Read/view the accompanying Fast Company Creative Brain Trust Blog
And here is the UN-conventional wisdom part. Higher toilets are not for everyone. Yes older people have trouble getting up from the toilet. But many have trouble evacuating their bowels too. We need to consider that before we give everyone including normal height people (like me) a higher toilet. Every design element and decision deserves individual, careful consideration. Not conventional wisdom so everyone gets the same thing.
Louis Tenenbaum, one of the nation's leading authorities on aging in place, is the founder of HomesRenewed, a coalition of business, consumers and nonprofits, driving policy and investment to increase the number of age-friendly homes.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Great title Louis – I did have to chuckle, but the point of all design being “client centered” and “specific solution” is always valid, and worth bringing to out attention. Great post!
Aaron
This alleged substantiation of your dislike for higher toilets is really irrelevant. Many people need, not want, higher toilets, due to any number of medical conditions, both temporary and permanent. You may be opposed to them, but I doubt you have experienced the panic of not being able to get up from a standard height toilet. Even transferring from a wheelchair to a lower seat causes trouble when trying to slide uphill to get back into the chair. If people have trouble evacuating their bowels, they’ll still need a higher toilet AND a stool to put their feet on.
Hola! I’ve been reading your website for a while now and finally
got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from
Porter Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the excellent job!