Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults over 65, and most happen at home. A handful of well-placed grab bars address the highest-risk moments. Here's the checklist we walk through with families.
Bathroom
- Tub or shower entry: vertical 16 to 24 inch bar on the entry wall.
- Shower or tub back wall: horizontal 24 to 36 inch bar at 33 to 36 inches. Add a low bar 8 to 10 inches above the tub rim for bathers.
- Shower controls: short horizontal or arched bar by the valve.
- Toilet: 36 to 42 inch horizontal bar on the side wall, or a fold-down bar if there's no wall.
- Vanity: a vertical bar or a pair of mirror-frame bars for steadying while standing at the sink.
Beyond the bathroom
- Entry steps and thresholds: a 36 to 48 inch bar beside exterior steps, plus a threshold ramp at the door.
- Bedside and hallway: a horizontal bar beside the bed for sitting up and standing, and one at any step-down in a hallway.
Do the bathroom first
If the budget only covers three bars, install the tub or shower entry bar, the shower back wall bar, and the toilet bar. Those three cover the moments that cause the most serious injuries.
Make it look like it belongs
People remove or refuse safety equipment that makes their home look like a facility. Use decorative grab bars in a finish that matches the faucets, and combination fixtures that double as towel bars and paper holders. A bar that's used every day is the one that's there when it's needed.
Questions about your bathroom? Call LiveWell at (440) 499-7221 or email info@livewellhs.com. We ship grab bars from Ohio to homes, contractors, and senior living communities nationwide.