Maintaining Modesty When You Need Support in the Bathroom

A perspective from Barry Redican at Showerbuddy

Modesty is something most of us never really think about until life throws us a curveball. At Showerbuddy, we meet families and individuals every week who suddenly find themselves needing help with very personal daily tasks. That shift can be confronting, not only for the person receiving support but also for the caregiver.

When you need help showering or using the toilet, modesty becomes front of mind. It is not just about dignity. It is about comfort, confidence, and feeling in control of a situation you would much rather manage yourself.

The reality many families face

A lot of people receiving support do not have a single regular caregiver. In many homes, there is a rotation of five to seven support workers. You might not know who is arriving on any given day.

Even when the same person comes more regularly, they may not know your routine yet. They may be unfamiliar with the equipment you use or unaware of the small preferences that make the process comfortable for you.

At the heart of all this, modesty becomes a key issue. Being expected to undress, be transported through the home, and be washed by someone you may have never met before is not easy for anyone.

Traditional modesty solutions do not quite work

Families have usually managed this problem with dressing gowns or towels. Both are better than nothing but far from ideal.

A dressing gown is heavy and awkward to put on when seated in a shower or commode chair. Towels slip, do not cover much, and become cold quickly. Neither option supports someone through the full sequence of getting from the bedroom to the bathroom, having a shower, and then returning warm and comfortable.

This is where the team at Showerbuddy started listening more closely to clients and caregivers. We wanted something purpose built for this exact moment in someone’s routine.

The development of Toga Care

After a lot of discussions with clients across Australia and New Zealand, our R and D team designed a modesty solution that fits real life. We called it Toga Care.

Toga Care works like a hospital gown, made from soft, absorbent terry towelling. It slides on from the front while someone is seated. Arms go through easily, the gown wraps around the front of the body, and the back stays open so caregivers can support with toileting and showering without constantly removing or adjusting clothing.

Because it goes on from the front, the person does not need to stand up or twist awkwardly. It simply wraps, tucks, and provides warmth and coverage.

How Toga Care fits into the daily routine

Before toileting, the user stays fully covered while being transferred. Once seated on the toilet, the open back design keeps modesty from the front while giving carers the access they need.

When it is time to move to the shower, the Toga Care stays on until the very last moment. The caregiver can remove it with one simple pull from the front right before rolling into the shower.

After the shower, it goes straight back on while the user is still seated. Because the towelling is absorbent, it immediately provides warmth and starts drying the body.

Some clients even mentioned a surprise benefit. While the gown was wrapped around them, it also absorbed a lot of the water on the shower chair itself. That meant they stayed warmer, the chair dried quicker, and water did not drip throughout the house.

What clients are saying

Madeline, one of our clients, told us she loved how quickly the Toga Care dried her after the shower. She also pointed out that it absorbed water from the seat cushion and backrest, making the whole process tidier and more comfortable.

Diane uses hers mainly for the modesty and warmth when travelling between the bedroom and bathroom. For her, the confidence of full front coverage is the biggest win.

Their feedback helped shape final design adjustments, including swapping the original pull ties for magnetic snaps. Caregivers found the ties fiddly, especially when working with time pressure or supporting someone with limited mobility. The magnetic snaps are now easy to secure or leave open depending on what the user prefers.

Why Toga Care works

Toga Care was designed for people who rely on a shower chair or commode chair. That means it supports the full experience, not just the shower itself. Users and families have told us they appreciate:

• The soft, warm terry towelling
• The ease of putting it on while seated
• The quick drying quality
• The discreet front coverage
• The open back that maintains dignity while still supporting toileting
• The warm wrap after showering
• The light weight compared with a dressing gown
• The ability to absorb water from both the body and the chair

For many, it becomes part of the daily routine from the moment they wake up through to returning to their room after the shower.

Solving an unspoken but very real problem

Modesty in assisted bathing is not something many people talk about, yet almost every family we meet has faced the challenge. Toga Care is the result of years of hearing those stories and wanting to design something simple, practical, and comforting.

It is not just a modesty gown. It is a way of making one of the most vulnerable moments of the day feel more manageable and dignified.

If you would like to learn more about Toga Care or see how it works with your existing Showerbuddy setup, feel free to reach out to our team. We are always happy to share what we have learned from clients around the world and help find the right fit for your home.