A general rule of thumb is to be aware of where you naturally reach out for something to hold onto as you step in and leave the shower. You are most vulnerable when you step over the lip of the shower, or over the side of the tub.
There is often a stud right at the outside of the shower or tub. It’s part of the framing process for the wall that will be behind the shower stall or tub. If there is room on the wall along that stud, that is a very good place to have a first grab bar. The bar is usually placed vertically for support and safety purposes while stepping over the shower stall lip or over the side of the tub. Vertical is in most cases perfectly safe.
If you are not pulling yourself up on this bar, and simply using it as a point of contact to steady yourself, you can use a small drawer pull handle instead of a large grab bar. I have seen several cases where this works better based on the “geography” of the bathroom.
A target grab bar put on the back wall of the shower stall or above the tub is also a very good idea. Whether you plan on sitting or standing in the shower, a grab bar comes in handy for increasing safety as well as helping the person steady themselves. It should be placed horizontally about waist height of the person who will use the bar. Here is an option on Amazon. A 2 pack with all the needed mounting hardware.
Please read the following in the voice of your favorite actor wearing a white lab coat to accurately convey the seriousness of this message:
Do not use the suction cup type of grab bars. Without exception they will fail. I have seen that happen several times. It is extremely tragic when the grab bar comes off of the wall and results in a broken bone.
And while we’re on the topic of things to avoid, please avoid grab bars with the cross hatch pattern for the shower, the cross hatches fill with water and it will become very slippery. There is no grip. Also clear grab bars are harder to see even when you do not have vision impairment. If you are placing the bars for someone with a visual impairment, remember to use high contrast colors so it is easy to find. Also take into account that you do not wear your glasses when you take a shower.
I always recommend a handheld shower. They are easy to install and for the most part when you buy them now they come with everything but the wrench to put them in.
Another thing to consider is how slippery the floor is. A lot of shower stall floors come with some kind of texture, but that texture is not always a guarantee that it won’t be slippery once it is covered in soap and water.
Bathtub bottoms, of course, are notoriously slippery. It is easy to put down a suction cup type bathmat that you can lift out with a reacher grabber or dressing stick. Or your favorite able-bodied helper if available. Nothing says they have to come out every time, but once in a while for cleaning, so that the soap doesn’t get trapped underneath or mold start growing. Then the bathmat becomes a slippery fall hazard as well. They make a spongy shelf liner that you could try as well. It would not be stuck to the floor, so it is easier to lift out and it’s potentially enough grip to keep you from slipping.
It is a good idea to consider a shower chair or tub bench.
Not everybody needs a huge tub transfer bench that has a third of it hanging outside of the tub. If you need that much help getting over the edge of the tub it is a phenomenal design. You can swap around the four legs to put them in the position that you need to fit your specific set up. You want the legs with the big suction cups to be inside the tub, and those legs are usually shorter. The other legs with slightly larger than normal rubber stoppers on them go to the outside of the tub.
Sit down on the part of the bench that is outside the tub, usually with your back to the tub, and then turn facing the direction of the faucet if possible, and one by one lift your legs into the tub. You can get undressed outside of the tub or inside of the tub. Some people want to at least keep their undergarments on while using this tub transfer bench so that they’re skin is not sliding across the seat. Bear in mind, the older we get, and the thinner our skin can get.
A small shower chair is usually sufficient for most people. It is really essential for any cardiac patient because washing your hair and face can trigger a cardiac complication. I’m not saying don’t wash your hair or you’ll have a heart attack. But I am saying people with A fib, tachycardia, high blood pressure or low blood pressure, for example, can trigger an event by washing their hair or face. Any work that you do with your hands above your shoulders can trigger an event. So sitting on a shower chair while you wash your hair or face can help ensure that you do not get dizzy and fall.
Next time I will share some other places throughout the house that can benefit from a grab bar
By Gina Bowden, COTA/L
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