Improve Bathroom Safety With A Grab Bar

Grab bars were once bland and dull looking compared to today. A few years ago, you might have found them only located in hospitals and nursing residences. Many were similar in size, color and function. They were all fairly ugly and lacked imagination.

Things are different now and you can find a variety of grab bars in private residences and hotels. You probably would not be able to find two that looked alike. Some could be straight while other models are curvy. Some can attach at an angle that stretches between two walls. There are even suction grab bars that are removable and portable so you can carry them around. Not only is the function widely changed from the past, there is also an unlimited amount of colors that would satisfy each and every designer and decorator.

Grab bars can provide assistance for anyone within the confines of a bathroom. You don't have to be elderly or disabled. You really don't need to have physical limitations. You may well be a prize-winning athlete or a well-coordinated dancer. These grab bars are suitable for anyone who wants a safer shower, bathtub or bathroom environment. They can still assist you while you climb into the bathtub or stand inside a shower. Grab bars will keep you steady while you reach for things around the shower like your hand-held shower head. They enable you to get on and off the toilet without straining your knees. They are also helpful on preventing a slip and fill on the bathroom tiles.

• Grabs that are wall mounted are usually the most secure and stable. Both ends of the bar attach towards the wall. It is possible to position them any way you want. The preferred position is usually in a vertical direction, pointing up and down. The other position that people favor is the horizontal grab bar that stretches side to side.
• Pull down grab bars attach towards the wall at only a single end. They connect to a hinge conveniently placed on the wall. When the grab bars are not in use, you can easily rest them up against the wall. When you need help, just pull them out to where you need them the most. These pull down or flip up grab bars are a huge space saver.
• There are bars or toilet safety rails that sit at the side of toilets to assist you while getting up and sitting lower on the toilet. They look similar to tiny armrests on a chair. Use them as a support so you can reduce the strain on other parts of your body.
• For grab bars that can be placed anywhere, consider handicap poles that attach on the ground straight to the ceiling. Place them in the middle of a room, next to a toilet or bathtub.

If a grab bar is unable to support your weight, at the moments when you need it the most, it might fail on you. For this reason, you should get grab bars that, at minimum, are capable of holding 250 pounds. If you are a heavier set person, there are bariatric grab bars that support upwards to 350+. Proper installation of the bar will also hold more weight and allow it to do the job.

During installation of grab bars, make sure they are attached to wall studs or a metal or thick block inside your walls. Simple dry wall will not be able to hold the grab bar in place because dry wall is quite susceptible to moisture and will break down in wet environments. If your walls are not sturdy, support it by nailing a piece of plywood to the studs. Make sure the wood is at least ¾ inches thick and six to twelve inches wide.

The grab bar’s diameter should optimally be around 1¼ inches to 1½ inches. For more safety measures, buy a grab bar that has a textured surface so it is easier to grip. Once you have the grip size, the second consideration is the amount of space between the bar and the wall. That space, ideally, is going to be 1½ inches.

As a test, try and make a fist on the grab bar and the wall. This is the recommended distance. However, do not make that space too wide because your arm might slip into that space. The last thing that you want is your arm to be wedged in between the wall and the bar.