Age, as the saying has it, does not come by itself. There are no guarantees of course, and thankfully, no certainties of decay or pain, but as you get older, you may find yourself experiencing more pain in your back, your hips, or your joints.
Without filling your head with horror stories, you exercise your back, hips, and knees every time you sit on a toilet, and plenty of people feel twinges, or even have genuine difficulty, getting down to standard toilets, or those infuriating lowered seats some people have now, like they think they’re back in kindergarten.
That’s why something called the comfort height toilet for seniors was invented – and yes, allowed out into the world with a name like that.
Sure, it sounds like an odd collection of words, but it can also do what it says it does – make bathroom trips manageable, comfortable, and at least relatively pain-free again if you have joint issues as you get older.
And we probably don’t need to tell you that bathroom independence is not only a way to keep your dignity as you get older. Bathroom independence can be linked to full independence too, so it’s worth keeping hold of if you can.
We’ve assembled a list of all the best comfort height toilets for seniors here, so you can get your own choice. But first, let’s cover the basics.
Comfort Height Toilets? What are they?
Well – you’re not stupid, right? They’re toilets (available with either gravity flush or pressure flush) which are at a more comfortable, less joint-creaking height off the floor, so they’re easier to use.
How easy are we talking? Most comfort height toilet bowls are between 17-19 inches off the floor. Add the right seat to that, and you can add another inch.
Most standard toilet seats are significantly lower than 17-inches off the floor, with something between 14.5-15-inches being the most common option.
Never let anyone tell you 4 inches is insignificant – when you’re bending from a standing position to a seating position with knees and hips that have seen some life and some action, 4 inches is the difference between “I got this” and “Nope!”
Without getting too intimate about the working of digestive plumbing, it’s also true that a higher toilet seat helps put your feet more naturally and comfortably on the floor, which can help you cut down the time you’re stuck there in the bathroom.
And in case you think we’re just making up the benefits of higher toilets, they’re an aid that’s on a par with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
So – comfort height toilets for seniors? Good thing. Want to know our favorite models? No problem.
OUR TOP PICK
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KOHLER 3810-0 Santa-Rosa Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet
EDITORS CHOICE
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Toto Vespin II Two-Piece High-Efficiency Toilet
BEST VALUE
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KOHLER K-3609-0 Cimarron Elongated 1.28 gpf Toilet
OUR TOP PICK
KOHLER 3810-0 Santa-Rosa Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet
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The Kohler Santa-Rosa 3810-0 comfort height toilet comes in at a full inch above ADA recommendations, at 18 inches tall. It also has an elongated seat for extra comfort when you’re sitting down.
It’s a gravity flush toilet, but has a more than adequate but highly-efficient 1.28-gallon flush, combining effective waste disposal and good water economy. In fact, Kohler claims the Santa-Rosa can save you up to 16,500 gallons of water per year compared to less efficient toilets.
The Santa-Rosa is a one-piece toilet with 12 inches of rough-in), which means it’s suited to standard bathrooms. That means minimal disruption changing to a comfort height toilet.
At A Glance
- One-piece design
- A quiet-close seat
- An elongated bowl
- The trip lever is a standard left-handed
- Rough-in distance: 12 Inches
- AquaPiston Flush Technology
- Dimensions: 31 x 20.8 x 29”
Pros:
- 18-inch height
- Great water economy
- Powerful flush
- Super easy to clean
- Sleek design
- Extra comfortable with an extended seat
Cons:
- The price is higher than some other options