What is a Bedpan?
A bedpan is a type of portable bathroom device that is used for people who cannot leave their beds to use a standard toilet or toilet chair. They are commonly used for people with paralysis, women recovering from delivery when they have had an epidural, and for elderly patients with conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or any limited mobility issues. The original bedpan was usually made of metal, and was slipped underneath the patient’s genitals and rear so the patient could relieve him or herself without needing to rise from the bed. The bedpan made of metal has been the source of some medical problems and certainly some complaints. First, the metal kind is very uncomfortable and cold. This may make relieving oneself difficult. Further, people who must use them on a regular basis may get ulcers and bedsores, especially if they must sit on the bedpan for long periods of time. In extended care facilities, a bedpan may be left under a patient until they have used it, and this m
