According to the CDC, more than 95% of hip fractures result from a fall. When your loved one is a disabled senior, it is important to protect him or her with mobility aids that reduce the potential for falls and other accidents. Grab bars are among the most useful for stability and confidence.
1. Next to Favorite Chairs or Couches
If your loved one is elderly, disabled, or both, it is difficult for him or her to safely sit down in a favorite easy chair. This is because sitting down (and getting up) requires significant strength in the core and lower body.
Grab bars installed next to your loved one's favorite chair or couch will make him or her less likely to "plop" or fall into a seated position. Additionally, it provides a steady grip when he or she wants to get back up again.
2. Alongside the Toilet
The toilet is often even lower than chairs or couches, so grab bars are particularly important in this area. Grab bars can be installed on any wall next to the toilet for safer use. When choosing grab bars, consider:
3. Inside the Shower
The other part of the bathroom that might require grab bars in your disabled loved one's home is the shower or bathtub area. These provide him or her with a safe grip so that he or she can enjoy more autonomy and independence while bathing.
Multiple grab bars are a good idea in the shower or tub because bathing requires movement. If your loved one turns around to wash his or her hair, for example, a bar installed on the back wall of the space provides support, while one on the side of the shower is useful for turning around.
4. By the Bed
Getting in and out of bed is difficult for disabled seniors who might lack arm and upper body strength. A grab bar installed next to the bed or nightstand makes it much easier for your loved one to live independently, especially at night.
If your loved one needs to use the restroom in the middle of the night, a grab bar provides security. The same is true for getting up in the morning, when his or her joints and muscles might be stiff from lying in the same position all night.
5. On the Front and Back Porch
Having a grab bar outside the house is especially important during inclement weather. Rain, snow, and ice present serious hazards for all people, but this is particularly true for your elderly relative.
Install one on the wall next to the front or back door, for example, or along a wall that leads to a porch railing. Your loved one might use grab bars when access to a walker or cane is not available, for example.
6. In the Garage
Your elderly loved one might have difficulty getting into and out of a car, which is why grab bars come in useful in the garage. They make getting to the vehicle easier in tight spaces, where a walker or wheelchair might not fit.
Grab bars are excellent mobility aids that can be used in conjunction with other tools to improve your loved one's quality of life. Install them yourself with a few handy tools from the garage or hire a professional from a place like Twin City Stair Lifts for expert installation.
Share8 January 2015
I have struggled with allergies my entire life, and my health issues kept me from enjoying playgrounds and outdoor sports like the other kids. When my daughter started to sniffle and sneeze when she turned seven, I knew that I didn't want to stop my child from experiencing a fulfilling childhood. After a meeting with an allergist and a blood test, I found out that my daughter was allergic to pollen during the spring, summer, and fall months. I decided to allow my daughter to start shot therapy. While my daughter built up an immunity to the allergens, I decided to lessen symptoms by using natural health techniques. I found a variety of options online. Unfortunately, I had to weed through a great deal of information to find out what worked and what didn't. Let my research and trials guide you, so you can find out what really works.
