Safety and home
Grab bars
Grab bars are sturdy handles fixed to a wall, usually in a bathroom, that give a person something solid to hold when standing, sitting or stepping. They are placed near toilets and in tubs and showers. They must be anchored to support body weight.
Why it matters for your family
Bathrooms are a common place for falls. The National Institute on Aging advises mounting grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower. It also suggests one near the front door. A towel bar is not a grab bar. It can pull out of the wall. A common mistake is to install a bar in a spot that does not match how the person moves. Have a qualified installer anchor it into studs or solid backing. AARP says Original Medicare typically does not pay for grab bars. A caregiver can stay close during bathing, but a bar still helps. A home safety assessment can show placement.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?
Related terms
- Fall preventionFall prevention is the set of steps that lower the chance an older adult will fall.
- Home modificationsHome modifications are changes to a house that make it safer and easier to use for an older adult or a person with a disability.
- Home safety assessmentA home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.
- Shower chairA shower chair is a waterproof seat for use in a shower or tub.
- Raised toilet seatA raised toilet seat is a seat added on top of a toilet to make it higher.
- ToiletingToileting, as an activity of daily living, means getting to and from the toilet, using it, and cleaning up afterward.
