Years ago, my family, particularly my youngest sister, changed our lives so that my Mom could age at home. As a result of that experience, we figured out a way to power up the traditional bedside commode: we added a battery, a transfer board that also serves as a commode arm, and a way for the user to raise and lower the commode so that they can get themselves on and off.
I've been having a heck of a time getting home medical equipment companies to take this seriously. They want to see that there is a market.
The idea is that my Mom would have gotten herself on and off; we would still have had to empty the bucket, but we would not have had to always be there "just in case." She would have been happier with not being so dependent, and we would have welcomed the greater ability to schedule, rather than have to "be there." For example, my sister would not have had to hurry home from work every day, she would have been able to be more relaxed.
Would like to know what this community thinks? Is there a market for this type of product?
her children . Mom could get herself on and off this commode type without
having to worry that one of her children was not there to assist her.
Mom could be more independent instead of dependent on someone being there.
I could be wrong here but it sounds to me that there are steps needed to be taken to get oneself on and off a transfer board to electronically lower oneself onto a commode. Many elderly with or without dementia in my opinion would still have problems remembering or become confused with exactly how to use this board and process especially in the midst of "nature screaming".
I am a caregiver of an 87 year old father who has a lift-chair in the living room and he has problems with a simple forward and backward toggle switch. I can just imagine using the system you describe and see him landing on the floor bucket and all!
The lift-chair in full up-right position allows him to basically just walk away from the chair but do know more often than not he neglects to put the chair up and struggles to get out of the chair using up all his energies? I often repeatedly have to remind him how the chair works and its purpose.
To me one would have to be alert, aware, and mobile enough to used this product by themselves. So you have to ask yourself "are the majority of elders alert, aware, and mobile enough to use it?" From my experiences and observations the answer to all three would be ... "well, not really."
You whole idea sounds good but I can understand the manufacturers repose on such a venture.