It has been said that grab bars are “life savers”. And, to be perfectly honest, there is enough evidence to prove that statement. Grab bars are installed in bathrooms in order to give their users ways to maintain their balance. It goes without saying that as we age, we lose some strength, balance and mobility. As a result, slips and falls are lot more likely to occur. And yes, we are most at risk of slipping and falling in the bathroom.
According to The Safe Living Guide presented by the Government of Canada, “falls are the leading cause of injuries among Canadians 65 years and over. Between 20% and 30% of community-dwelling Canadian seniors experience one fall each year. Research suggests that falls are the direct cause of 95% of all hip fractures, leading to death in 20% of cases.”
They go on to note that falls account for no less than 85 percent of seniors’ injury-related hospitalizations. This makes falls the leading cause of injury-related admissions for seniors. “The average Canadian senior had to stay in hospital 10 days longer for falls than for any other cause,” says Canada.ca, “Falls are associated with over 1/3 of admissions to long-term care facilities after being released from the hospital.”
And where do most falls occur?
You guessed it – the bathroom. Both the bathroom and the stairs are listed in The Safe Living Guide as the most hazardous areas of the home for seniors and others with mobility issues. As a result, it’s important to modify bathrooms for optimum safety. This is where grab bars come in so handy. Perhaps, the award-winning Boston-based Baker-Elman Plumbing Company puts it best when they state that there are several advantages to installing grab bars in your bathroom.
“For one, it will help you safely move around your bathroom, as getting in and out of the shower can sometimes be a hassle,” they write on their website, “If you have weak knees, they will take some of the pressure off of rising from the commode. If you simply need something to lean on, these grab bars will provide just that, and best of all, they can go just about anywhere where there is a wall to hang them on.”
Where in the bathroom should grab bars be installed?
Generally, grab bars are meant to assist persons in preventing falls and improving mobility near the toilet and in the shower. They make it a lot easier to get in and out of slippery bathtubs and showers without falling. As well, for those who may have difficulty rising from their seated positions on toilets, grab bars provide excellent help. They are designed with textures that make it so that hands don’t slip from them when they are grabbed.
Grab bars represent just one of many bathroom modifications offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions. We also offer transfer benches, walk in tubs, roll in showers, bath lift chairs, raised support toilet seats, shower chairs and so much more!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 647-350-4488 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
