Hold on to Your Independence with a Grab Bar

There are many reasons and situations that cause people to need assistance to get up from a sitting or laying position, and the same can be said for getting down into a sitting or laying position.  We all appreciate a helping hand or an arm to lean on, either from a family member, friend or health care worker. And yet, some times and some places a little privacy is wanted, where potential embarrassment overrides the need for assistance.  At such times and places the feeling of self-reliance is important to one's psyche, and the need for independence is paramount to the mental health of a person.  To be able to function independently at a time of injury, poor health or advanced age is a form of accomplishment and self-fulfillment.

The bathroom or bedroom are usually the places where the final walls of independent self-care crumble and yet most of us want to keep that wall strong and upright for as long as possible.  Rehabmart can offer the ways and means to stay safe and independent in the bathroom and bedroom with simplicity itself; a grab bar. 

A grab bar is just what the name implies, a sturdy device, a bar or handle, to grab and use to help create mobility and safety.  Getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult for some people, as well as lowering and rising from a commode and bathtub.  The following types of grab bars are just a few of the many different styles offered by Rehabmart.

       The Knurled Grab Bar is a simple, yet very functional grab bar that can be mounted either vertically or horizontally and placed where it will be most effective to assist a person to rise or slowly sit down from a toilet or bathtub.  This durable chrome-plated grab bar is both attractive and easy to keep clean.  The knurled grab bar has small ridges on the edge surface to provide a no-slip grip, and due to its durability, it has a lifetime warranty.

       The Senior Companion is a fall prevention aid that assists a person from getting out of chairs or a bed as well as the commode.  For people who are somewhat inactive and need to stretch, just place the Senior Companion over a door and slowly stretch the back muscles.  Due to its unique and lightweight design, the Senior Companion is a great traveling addition or it can easily be stored in a closet and taken out when an elderly friend or family member comes to visit.

       The Pivot Grip Telescoping Portable Grip Bar is another great product to pack up and take on a vacation.  When traveling, many times a person will be using unknown tubs and showers and the fear of slipping or falling is a real concern.  The Pivot Grip Grab Bar with its durable commercial grade suction cups that will not damage or deface property is easy to install without any tools or professional assistance.  This telescoping grab bar can pivot which combines both safety and flexibility by stretching across a corner of a wall or shower, inside of a bathtub or even across unparalleled surfaces.  This is a great idea to use either for home or away, anytime a permanent grab bar is not possible.

       If safety with a good looking design is what you are looking for, the HealthCraft Invisia Soap Dish with Integrated Support Rail is what you want. While most grab bars use the standard two-point contact with the wall as their root of support, the Invisia Soap Dish uses up to four points of contact for maximum structural support and safety.  Also, the nonporous shatterproof surface of the removable soap dish resists the growth of mold and bacteria.  As for the design, the meticulously designed wall interface stems combined with a professional grade construction melds into an elegant look that can beautifully blend into any bathroom environment.

       Having trouble getting out of the tub?  The HealthCraft Advantage Rail is a floor mounted support rail that assists a person with a pivoting rail that moves with the person, providing support similar to a walker, but it can lock in an instant in case the person loses balance, needs to rest or to take baby steps to get to a seated position.  The portability of the HealthCraft Advantage Rail is also a nice option.  Just take it with you or simply move it out of the way when it is not needed.  The portable model quickly secures and releases from a low profile floor mounted plate.

So don't fear the bathroom or low lying chairs and beds.  Stay independent of help from others by using a grab bar or pole to get up and around.  As we get older or are injured, many of us need something to lean on and sometimes we might not want others to assist us. Now, you can support yourself with a grab bar or pole.

To view other styles of grab bars, please go to the Grab Bar page.

Bill Stock
Library Editor for Rehabmart
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO