I'm so sorry about your father. I'm glad he'll be able to spend his final days at home as he wanted. I hope that your brother will have some auxiliary care-taking help so he doesn't get burned out. I can't speak from personal experience, but from what I've read, washlets are a giant step toward paperless bathrooms, and promise to be a tremendous boon for the environment, even if they don't eliminate paper entirely. I've also read that they can provide at least some automony and privacy for the ill and disabled, but I'm sure that the benefits must depend on the individual circumstances of the user and on the usability of the washlet model. I think it would be worthwhile for you to talk to his medical team and especially to occupational therapists, who probably have some experience with washlets and patients with similar illnesses. Without knowing the details of your father's condition, I'd be concerned about whether he'd be able to adapt easily to changing very basic habits under difficult circumstances, or whether he might be confused by the high-tech washlet controls. If you think these wouldn't be problems for him, a washlet could be very beneficial, both for him and for your brother. Be sure to read lots of reviews to find a model that is easy to use (and clean). Amazon is a good source of washlet reviews.

We got one of those for my MIL about 5 or 6 years ago. She started talking about them after my SIL had a stroke and laid on the floor for 8 hours until her DH came home from work. As a result of that stroke she has been in a nursing home and cannot move the right side of her body. Now if she had one of these maybe things would be different, but, she was only in her sixties and in good health didn't think she needed one. So, we got it for my MIL as a birthday gift (it sure makes it easy every year as to what we are going to get her besides sending her flowers) and she just loves it. She and we have piece of mind. We live a little more than hour away so it will take time for us to react in an emergency. It not only works in the house, but, we went outside in the yard and it worked as far as across the street into her neighbors drive way. So this way if she is outside near the house all she has to do is push the button if she needs help. The company is US and their operators are all US based. We did everything online with them including paying them every year. I would highly recommend them. The name of the company is Alert One http://www.alert-1.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: Alert One

Hi Natacha, I am interested that your heading does not allow for us to go to your page to learn about you, as is usual here. As for helping improve the quality of life of my parents, they left this dimension of living in 1942 and 1986, so it gets a bit difficult for folks here to influence that much now, directly. Some say that our prayers can influence their lifestyle in the situation which they inhabit currently, others doubt that possibility. The major medical alert system for emergencies in use here is based in a local residential and medical complex mainly for long-term care folks and seniors. I do not remember its name. I referred in an earlier post on this thread how it works. The person for whom there is some concern wears a necklace or wristband with a push-button which can be pushed in case of trouble, to have their telephone ring the phone at a care centre which is staffed 24 hours, 365 days. The staff have a list of several numbers to call when such a phone call comes in. It is possible to choose a service where the person at the care centre can speak to the person of concern, I understand, which allows for more flexibility. The wearer sends a message once per month at a pre-selected time, to test the system. One of the major problems is that the button may be pushed inadvertently, which gets the caregiver(s) upset ... and she or he hastens to the home of the person of concern, to be greeted on arrival with surprise: everything is O.K. - whatès all the fuss about (my new keyboard does not do question marks ... or apostrophes or quotation marks, either). Each of the folks who are on call needs to have a key (or know where to find a hidden one near the subjectès home ... or expect some broken windows or doors!). It cost about $30.00 to set up, plus about $30.00 monthly for service, about four or five years ago. The base unit at the phone and the push-button are on loan, to be returned at theend of the contract period. ole joyful

As part of my job, I teach and provide medical oversight for more than 1,500 EMT & Paramedics. Especially if someone is confused or unconscious, they will check for medic alert tags. However, EMT & Paramedics are not likely to take the time to call a special number. @ jmck, if someone is truly allergic to aspirin (not just some "upset stomach"), they should not be given it during a "heart attack." Jewelry is often banned in sports because it gets caught on things and causes serious, sometimes life and limb threatening, injuries. Can write critical info on index card, and put it in a pocket. (We check pockets when people are confused or unconscious.) There are also medic alert shoe tags.