SKATING

Ensure Bathroom Safety by Installing Grab Bars

Most of the accidents in the US involving senior citizens are caused by an accidental fall. Many elderly or handicapped people or those recovering from a surgery find it difficult to maintain balance and stability when they are moving. These people are at great risk of sustaining serious injuries in a fall if they slip or trip. The risk is much greater in areas of the home where there is a likelihood of water accumulating on the floor making it slippery. This happens frequently in bathrooms and shower stalls where the use of water is unavoidable. If you have an elderly person staying with you or have a disabled family member, then making sure your shower or bathroom is safe for use by them is important. Installing safety accessories such as grab bars are very useful in making these areas safe.

 

Choosing the right grab bars

 

There are many factors to consider when choosing these bars for your bathroom. Here are a few things to consider:

 

Material

 

Because the bath area is one that will remain damp, it is necessary to ensure that the grab bars are made of rust free material. Stainless steel bars are the most common options. You will find these easy to clean and durable. These are available in a variety of sizes to suit the dimensions of your wall. Stainless steel bars are very functional, durable, resilient and can handle the weight of the user very well.

 

If you are looking for bars that are just as functional but better looking, you can check the brass and powder coated ones. Brass bars add a touch of elegance to the bathroom while powder coated ones can be colored to match your bathroom interiors.

 

Sizes and shapes

 

Typical safety bars are straight with rounded ends, available in sizes from 12 to 48 inches. You can find differently shaped ones if you want to add a personal touch to the bathroom without compromising on the safety. There are safety bars that come with straight edges too, but make sure these are not installed at heights where there is chance of bumping into them. The sharp edge may cause some serious injury if the user hits against it. If you have a uniquely shaped bathroom and none of the standard bars fit, then ask for customized ones. These are specially designed based on the dimensions of your bathroom and the location where you need to install the bar.

 

Installation tips

 

Installing the bars properly is also important to ensure maximum safety to the user. The bar must be fixed to the wall using wooden studs or wall blocks. Test the bar by putting your weight on it to make sure it will not break away when it is being used. You can angle the bar so that the user finds it easy to pull himself up by using it for support.

 

Check out how grab bars are installed in the homes of friends or relatives to get a good idea of what needs to be done. When properly installed, these bars make the bathroom or shower a much safer place for disabled persons.

 

 

About the Author

For more information on grab bars or handicap showers contact an accessibility expert at BarrierFree.org

 

Federal Power Grab: Clean Water Restoration Act; CWRA; Federal control of all water, even ponds

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