Imagine you’re alone at home and slip in the bathroom and, subsequently, faint and, thus, cannot reach out for help. Scary thought, right? Well, for seniors who live alone, this fear is real. Because they start to panic thinking that they might be unable to call for help after falling when treading on wet bathroom floors. Also, the bones of elderly individuals are frail and can, thus, break easily.
More so, the National Institute of Aging cites bathroom-related accidents to be the primary cause of hospitalization. Fortunately, bathroom grab bars are available to protect the elderly groups from falling in the bathrooms.
In the following details, you can find information about the usefulness of bathroom grab bars and the features to consider when shopping around for these tools for your loved one.
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Best 7 Bathroom Grab Bars for Elderly
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| Bathroom Grab Bar | Dimensions | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar | 7.50 x 1.18 x 1.19 inches | 1.15 pounds | Stainless Steel |
| Changing Lifestyles Safe-er-Grip 16″ Bath & Shower Handle | 16.50 x 4.00 x 3.75 inches | 14.4 ounces | Plastic |
| AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar | 16.5 x 4.6 x 3.5 inches | 10.6 ounces | Plastic |
| OXO Good Grips StrongHold Suction Grip Bar | 14 x 4 x 3 inches | 15.2 ounces | Brushed nickel |
| AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar | 21.10 x 3.00 x 3.20 inches | 1.27 pounds | Stainless steel |
| AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar | 21 x 3 x 2.8 inches | 2.8 pounds | Stainless Steel |
| Franklin Brass 5616 Safety Bath and Shower Grab Bar | 7.50 x 1.18 x 1.19 inches | 1.15 pounds | Stainless Steel |
1. Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar
Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar features a stainless-steel construction and blends perfectly with the existing décor of the bathroom. Seniors who are having mobility issues will find this Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar extremely helpful while entering and leaving the bathroom. The installation process is dead simple; thanks to its innovative Secure Mount design, you can get this Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar attached to the bathroom wall at any angle you want. It flaunts a warm grey metallic look that will add to the elegance of your bathroom and you will get a limited lifetime warranty on this. Moen 8724 Home 24-Inch Bathroom Grab Bar provides support up to 500 pounds which is really impressive.
2. Changing Lifestyles Safe-er-Grip 16″ Bath & Shower Handle
Getting in and out of the shower or the bathtub should not be a challenge, but for people with a movement disorder or mobility issues, this could pose a serious challenge. To alleviate their problems, you can attach this Changing Lifestyles Safe-er-Grip Bath & Shower Handle to your bathroom and it will keep your safe while entering and leaving the bathroom. However, you simply can’t put your entire body weight on it.
To be honest with you all, Changing Lifestyles Safe-er-Grip Bath & Shower Handle is basically a suction cup device and therefore, it makes sense that you should get it attached to a flat and smooth surface. You simply can’t expect it to offer optimal performance when attached to a textured surface. The installation and removal process is simple as it could be. You just have to flip the tab and it will do the trick.
3. AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar
To get AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar to work, you need to make sure that it is getting sufficient suction power and for that, it needs to be attached to a 4×6’’ wide tile. AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar Is perfectly safe to use. AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar comes fitted with indicators that will automatically change its color from red to green only when a secure grip is achieved. You have to make sure that both the indicators have changed their color from red to green before using it. In case you are not sure whether AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar II has been attached to the bathroom wall properly, you just have to release it and reattach it again.
If used properly, AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar could turn out to be one of the best safety equipment that you can install in your bathroom. However, to be honest with you all, this bathroom grab bar is not a hundred percent fail-proof. So, you need to double-check them before you use them just to stay on the safer side.
AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar should be used to get your balance right and therefore you should not put all your body weight on it. in case you need something stronger, you might have to use a permanent grab bar. AmeriLuck Suction Bath Grab Bar works perfectly on a non-porous surface.
4. OXO Good Grips StrongHold Suction Grip Bar
OXO Good Grips StrongHold Suction Grip Bar offers a comfortable grip in the bathroom and that too without making you pay a fortune for it. To allow you to get a secure grip on it, its underside has got a non-slip coat. It has got a sleek and shiny design with a nickel finish. The removal process is simple as it can get; all you have to do Is to press the release tabs and the Suction cups will stop working. The Suction cups are powerful enough to be placed on a wide variety of surfaces and they will still work fine. The levers have got finger holes that make this bathroom grab bar easy to use on a day to day basis.
The installation process of OXO Good Grips StrongHold Suction Grip Bar is it’s quite simple. You don’t even have to use any tool to get this thing attached to the bathroom wall. You can even get it attached to smooth surfaces like glass and tiles and it will hold on to it no matter what.
5. AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar
AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar features stainless steel construction and this bathroom grab bar is extremely durable. It will never develop rust and this AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar has got eight mounting holes on each side. You will get a 1-year warranty on this grab bar. It offers to support up to 500 LBS which is more than enough for most Americans. The best thing about this AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar is that it complies with ADA standards. It is 18 inches long and all the mounting screws come included in the package. AmazonBasics GBAR-150-18 Grab Bar is basically a no-nonsense bathroom grab bar design for those who need a little helping hand while getting in and out of the shower.
6. AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar
AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar is made from Stainless Steel tubes. 6 Stainless screws come standard with this bathroom grab bar that will help you get this thing properly attached to the wall of your bathroom. AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar has got a nice pleasant look without the Nursing home feel. The maximum load capacity of this AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar is around 500 lbs and it is compliant with both ADA and ANSI standards.
Unlike regular grab bars, AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar offers anti-skid grip and that means, you will be able to move around in the bathroom without losing your grip. AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar available two variants – brushed nickel and polished chrome. The best thing about this AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar is that it will not make your bathroom look ugly rather it will add to the overall grace of the bathroom.
7. Franklin Brass 5616 Safety Bath and Shower Grab Bar
Franklin Brass 5616 Safety Bath and Shower Grab Bar needs only two to three screws to get it mounted on to the wall and it will offer to support up to 500 pounds. This AmeriLuck Stainless Steel Bath Grab Bar is designed for those who want a little help while entering or leaving the shower or bathroom. Franklin Brass 5616 Safety Bath and Shower Grab Bar flaunts a smooth and clean surface and if you can manage it to get installed correctly, it can manage to withstand 500 pounds of weight. Franklin Brass 5616 Safety Bath and Shower Grab Bar meets all the ADA standards and that too without ruining the look and feel of your bathroom.
Bathroom Grab Bars: why Use them?
A study was conducted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation about grab bars in bathrooms. They came up with two conclusions.
First, youngsters also clutch to beams if they lose balance due to slippery bathroom floors. Second, over 75% of participating seniors used grab bars after these tools were installed in their bathrooms, even if they did not feel the need for them previously. So, the studies gave the general assumption that these tools gave everybody a sense of security.
Plus, grab bars are popular for their versatility features. While some models come with stainless steel handles that can be mounted on walls via screws to support the elderly person’s weight, others contain locking latches for a seamless relocation.
In addition to bathrooms, grab bars are mountable in other home areas as well. They can be set up near toilets to help seniors while sitting and getting up from the toilet, or in stairways to help them climbing stairs, or next to their bed for some support when getting up from their bed in the morning. As such, the seniors are prevented from falling and getting injured.
Bathroom Grab Bars: Where To Place Them?
Some studies were conducted to know about the most popular grab bar configurations in bathrooms. The findings suggested that placing a long, straight bar towards the back wall of bathtubs helps seniors to sit down and get up from the bathtub. And a second vertical bar towards the wall and near the faucet provides the requisite support to seniors to get in and out of the bathtub.
These settings were found to be both convenient and efficient. Further, the study findings indicate that placing two horizontal grab bars one underneath the other provides the much-needed support for elderly persons to lift their bodies. Putting up one L-shaped handle on the rear of the wall is also a good idea, for it serves many purposes. Lastly, placing medium-sized grab bars that were tilted at a 45-degree angle was one of the best and popular options.
A good recommendation is to go with relocatable grab bars first to check which configuration is best suited to the senior person’s physical condition. However, both ways, the study suggested that installing more than one grab bar was safer.
Shower Grab Bars For Seniors Buying Guide
When purchasing products, you need to consider some important aspects. Likewise, you need to ponder upon several important aspects when shopping for bathroom grab bars for seniors. The most important consideration is safety – especially, where seniors are concerned. This is because if the bars are not installed properly and seniors apply their weight, the bars can loosen and cause injuries to them.
However, in addition to your budget, you must consider several other aspects when choosing bathroom grab bars too.
Here, we have prepared this guide to help you in making the right choice in bathroom grab bars.
1. Types of Installation
In the case of suction grab bars, they come with easy-to-install features but can loosen shortly after their installation. More so, they are not able to support similar weights as wall-mounted steel bars.
To travel, the suction models are ideal for their portability features. Also, they serve the purpose of persons who rest only slight weight on the bar and only want the extra assurance when they’re getting in and out of showers.
2. Material
Most shower grab bars are rust-resistant and corrosion-proof. Go with shower bars that can withstand water and moisture. Several latest models are available in varied colors and can match your bathroom fittings. And if you’re still not sure of their rust-proof qualities, or do not fancy the aluminum or stainless-steel options, the plastic models might be in line with your preferences.
3. Weight Capacity
Most shower bars are not designed to support full-body weights for long durations. Though they are useful for maintaining balance and providing the required support, yet they are not meant to support full body weight for long periods. Rather they are useful aids that help seniors to sit down and pull themselves up.
Shower bars have a weight limit capacity. So, you may want to check the labels to ensure the ones you’re choosing can support the weight of your loved one.
For greater stable support, you must choose grab bars that are installed onto the studs of your bathroom wall. Suction cup grab bars can be used for supporting lightweights.
4. Grip
You may want to consider a textured grip when making your selection of shower grab bars, for they give a strong grasp when you need to grab them fast to find your balance. People having large hands should look for bars having some extra clearance from the wall (more than three inches) or curvy-shaped bars.
5. Finally
Bathroom grab bars are available in a variety of styles and sizes. However, more importantly, you must check if they are durable and functional first, for they are safety tools. Surely, you do not want to run the risk of your loved one falling down by choosing the poor-quality ones, correct? So, carefully consider the different options and choose the ones that best suit the senior persons’ requirements.
