Main Uses of Commode Chairs
Commode chairs are used by the elderly and extremely infirm, who suffer from extreme mobility issues, and have difficulty getting to the bathroom.
They’re not designed for comfort, but rather, for functionality and convenience, giving the people who use them more control over their lives and preserve dignity by minimizing accidents.
Commode Chairs features
- A lightweight, durable frame, most commonly hollow steel tubing.
- Rubberized feet, to prevent skidding.
- A toilet seat, with a removable collection receptacle beneath for easy emptying.
- Armrests with some type of hand grip.
Origin and History of the Commode Chair
The modern commode chair traces its origins to the close stool, which was a type of portable toilet used in the middle ages, and remained popular until the invention of the flush toilet.
These were essentially wood cabinets on four legs, with a chair back, armrests, and a closeable toilet lid. The chamber pot inside the cabinet could be accessed via a hinged door on the side and emptied as needed.
By the 19th century, these had morphed into “Thunderboxes.” They lost the arms, legs, and chair back, becoming essentially stools with a toilet lid on top and a chamber pot inside the stool, again, accessed via a hinged door on one side.
