Your Guide to Choosing Shower Grab Bars

Wet, soapy and slippery tiles and bathtubs… oh my!

There are serious slip and falls risks whether you are 5 or 95 years old.

No wonder the bathroom is one of the biggest sources of fall-related injuries in the home, regardless of age.

Support rails, bathtub handrails, and shower grab bars (whatever you might call them!), enable a person to maintain balance and stability while moving or getting into or out of the bathtub. Designing your bathroom so that it allows you to remain independent for as long as possible will boost your quality of life dramatically. Making minor improvements to your home doesn’t have to be difficult or intimidating, with grab bars typically falling under a few categories.

Secure Bathtub and Shower Grab Bars

As mentioned before, whatever age or health issue you have, having something to hold onto in a slippery and wet shower or bathtub is a sensible decision. It can save you from any potential falls or slips that prevent injury. For your bathroom, there are several types of bathroom products to consider:

Vertical grab bar placed by the entrance to the shower to support a person entering and exiting a shower.

Straight Grab Bar

A Straight grab bar can be installed vertically or horizontally at the tub threshold to help entry and exit of the shower or tub. They come in various lengths to suit your requirement, whether you’re older or younger, taller or shorter. You are 5 times more likely to fall while exiting the tub than getting in, so having a secure handrail is critical.

120 degrees Grab bar on a tile wall over a bathtub.

L-Shaped and 120 Grab Bars

L-Shaped and 120 degree grab bars are often placed on the back wall of the tub. This provides greater access to shower safety while in the tub. Having these types of shower grab bars allow for gripping at multiple heights and often allow for greater safe movement in the tub.

SuperPole with Superbar in a bathroom showing non-permanent support options.

Temporary Grab Bars

If you are in a rental unit or can’t install through tiles in your shower, there are temporary or ‘no damage’ install grab bars that you can use too. Floor-to-ceiling support poles like the SuperPole with SuperBar allow you to place support beside the tub to help you in and out. Other options like tub clamp on rails install in under a minute to provide a secure gripping surface.

If you’d like to see beautiful or decorative grab bars, make sure you see the Plus Series or Invisia Collection.

 

You cannot prevent every accident, but installing a grab bar helps reduce injury risks. If you feel your home needs a grab bar, do not hesitate to ask us questions on Live Chat, call us at 888-619-9992 or email us at [email protected].