Installing bathroom grab bars can go a long way in improving the safety of your bathroom. The biggest question to ask about grab bars is: where should I install them?
Always put grab bars in and around the shower. They are usually placed where you enter and exit the shower. A lot of times we put our hand against the wall to get in and out of the shower, especially when we have to step over the ledge of the bathtub. A good rule of thumb would be to place a grab bar on the wall where your hand would normally go. As creatures of habit, this would increase the use and safety of the new grab bar since it will be in the same place you normally place your hand.
Next, place grab bars inside the shower. You can place them either horizontally or vertically. You may like it up towards the showerhead or across the back of the shower. Whether you choose one option or both, they will increase your stability in the tub to avoid slips and falls.
Lastly, you should put a grab bar by the toilet. There are many different options of grab bars by the toilet. Some flip up and down so it can be moved up against the wall when it is not in use. We are all used to reaching for the toilet paper next to the toilet so there are also grab bars that function as toilet paper holders. With this type of grab bar you would no longer have to worry about accidentally pulling out your toilet paper holder if you lost your balance.
Just as no one bathroom is the same, every person’s needs and preferences are different. Your options when installing grab bars are endless and you can be creative and have fun with them.
