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tdsg13 Asked August 2017

Anyone have advice on the placement of bathroom grab bars?

Placement of bathroom grab bars in shower and water closet.

Windyridge Aug 2017
No matter if it's diy or done by professionals it has to be done correctly. I don't recommend the suction cup types. Screw them into studs, use toggle bolts and you'll need a masonry drill bit for tile.

Place one outside the bath tub or shower and one inside at an angle so as the person sits they just slide their hand down the bar and are holding on all the time as they sit and rise.

Take the person and have them show you how they get in and out of the areas in question. Right hand grabbing the door frame about 4 feet up? Grab bar right there, and so on.

freqflyer Aug 2017
When my parents needed grab bars in their bathroom, they called their local plumber to ask if they were familiar with such installations. Luckily the plumbing company was, and they knew what type of grab bars would be needed and where was the correct placement.

Something like this is always isn't a do-it-yourself operation unless one is very familiar with the work.

For the toilet, we bought a gadget that was made for the toilet which was set onto the toilet seat and floor. The caregiver installed that for my Dad as she was quite familiar with those. That helped Dad to be able to stand up after he was through using the toilet. Usually one can purchase the item at a drug store.

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Logan179 Aug 2017
I would also put one on the wall in front of the toilet.

JoAnn29 Aug 2017
In my Mom's shower a bar was put vertically on the wall as you walked in and another horizontally on the inside wall. If your shower has a tub, there is also a bar you can get that clamps on to the side and it high enough for the person to grap to help them get in. Anyone that has a hard time getting into a shower should have a shower seat. There are the kind you put in the the tub or shower and then there are ones that extend out of the tub that the seat is on the outside and you slide the person into the tub. I have used the suction ones and you just have to make sure that you have a clean smooth surface to attach. If you have tiles, make sure the suction cup is on the smooth tile and not on the grout. I know some on the site don't like this option, but I had a full grown man pull on my Mom's and just about took the insert out. The suction cup never gave. I have seen bars under the shower head to so the person has something to hang onto when showering. But I feel, if you have to go this way...for safety, use a shower chair. You can install handheld shower heads for easy use.

geewiz Aug 2017
Lots of info when you google the question. Please take into account the height of the person that will be using them. For example, my husband (6'2" ) would need them placed differently then my daughter (4'9")!

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