Preventing Falls with Grab Bars!

Grab bars can be effective support devices that prevent falls throughout the home, however the most critical location that is also considered the most hazardous is the bathroom. A wet tile floor and other various obstacles make the bathroom an especially dangerous place.

Grab bars placed strategically around the bathroom can act as the first line of defense in fall prevention. The most important location to first consider is a vertically positioned grab bar placed at the entrance to the shower stall. This bar will offer support when entering and exiting the shower, most importantly when it is necessary to step over the side of a bathtub. A grab bar placed diagonally or horizontally against the back wall of the shower will help individuals with stabilizing themselves while bathing. In some cases it is best that a seat is used in the shower while bathingm, in which case a diagonally placed bar will help an individual go from standing to sitting and vice versa. A bar placed beside the toilet is also critical to assist with the range of motions involved in going between sitting and standing.

Elderly people are at a high risk of falling due to various physical and mental ailments such as; fatigue, mobility issues, weakness in the joints, vertigo, and many other conditions. Too often do these issues go unaddressed and the individual suffers from a life-changing unexpected fall. It is best to have grab bars installed and the safety of the bathroom improved prior to the occurrence of any falls. When necessary precaution is taken, the individuals longevity of health and fitness are maintained by preventing an injurious fall from taking place.

This information was provided to us by Mr. Grab Bar of Pinellas County, a leader in fall prevention and grab bar installation.