A rep. from Harris county was here last fall and told us we do not have to pay for them so I am checking. I live at The Retreat at Westlock in Tomball.
While anchoring a grab bar to a stud in the wall is the best way to go I would hate to think that if in fact you do have to pay for the bar and having it installed that when you move out the management could possibly charge you for "damaging property". Even though the grab bar would be a benefit they just might try to charge you so if they allow it get something in writing that they will not consider this damage to their property.
Can you get one of the bench seats that also has a grab bar? Do you take a bath or a shower? If a shower the bench would also work, an attachment to convert the shower to a hand held one would be better.
As to paying for the install...many Senior Centers have lists of handymen that will do work for less than what others might charge and some also volunteer to help seniors.
Although we usually concentrate our thinking on falling while standing in the bathtub, statistics show most falls occur when getting into or out of the tub when balance and stiff joint issues come into play as we step over the side of the tub. Even a small grab bar mounted vertically on a single stud to hold to when entering/leaving the tub can greatly reduce fall risk. The suction cup grab bars can work well for inside the tub because the smooth surface allows a good suction attachment and just having the bar as an aid in standing or in tub balance reduces the fall risk. I used a longer grab bar mounted at an angle to catch studs for both ends when adding the bars to my parents' home.
I'm glad that those who use suction cups for grab bars haven't had any problems, yet, but I really wish you'd consider asking a tradesman, especially a carpenter, who's had experience with anchoring grab bars into the studs.
My father and plumber both were adamant when offering advice. Absolutely: grab bars needs to be anchored into studs!
How much weight do you folks think a suctioned grab bar would hold if your parent or spouse had to grab onto it, if he/she began sliding down and pulled on the bar? How long do you think it would remain attached to the wall/tile when that kind of force?
In my experience, they would last over ten years. They aren't designed to do chin ups on. They are designed to steady you entering and exiting the bath. If you lose your balance, you don't hang your whole weight in the air on them.
Many grab bars are not designed with the 16 inches needed to have both sides attached to studs. I agree that attaching to studs is ideal. But there are other options.
If you are a renter, you should be covered by the Americans with Disabilities act. Your landlord needs to provide you with reasonable accommodations for your disability. I think the manager is just not well informed.
If you own the property, I do think you will have to pay for these accommodations which , as JoAnn29 says, Medicare and Medicaid might help you pay for this.
We got a very good grab bar with suction cups at Home Depot for about $35. It was easy to install and, in our experience, it will hold the weight of a pretty big guy. Maybe that would work for you?
Hi Alice - ADA covers disabled people as far as I know. I don't think ADA covers someone just because she is a renter. Maybe different where you are...
If the tenant was not disabled prior to moving in, and didn't need grab bar, I don't know if the law requires owners to modify existing structures to accommodate the tenant's new needs.
Medicare and Medicaid pay for durable equipment so do some supplimental insurances.
Not all members will agree, but I had good luck with the bars that suction to the wall. The wall has to be very smooth though. If tiled, the suction cups have to fit on the tiles. It won't suction on grout. My nephews painted wall was rough so didn't work there either. I had a man pull on it and it didn't budge. Later we installed a walk in shower with bars. One was on the inside wall the other as you were getting out of the shower.
My mother used to live in an all senior building. When I wanted to install a grab bar, the type that you put on and tighten to the side of the tub, so no drilling or damage to the tub surface. I checked with the management, and they would not pay for or install it. I bought it and installed it for mother. It was easy to install, and the bar itself was around $30 I think. This was about 10 years ago.
Here any 55 and up Senior apts have to have handicap accessibility. That means bars in the tub. Wide doorways, etc. I would check with the county again if your complex is mandated to install the bar. If not, then ask how do u get them free. Maybe if ur willing to pay for instillation the complex will allow it.
I would not go with what the manager says. I find that everyone does not know the disabilities laws. If the County says the complex must install, have them call the manager.
Check your tenant's rental agreement, if it is not specifically mentioned that you may NOT add anything structural to the apartment, then you may have to make do with a "vaccum sealed' one--I don't know what to call them-temporary bath aids or something like that.
You'd think that in an elderly apartment complex this would be a standard issue or added as needed.
Don't attempt to do this on your own-they are tricky and must be mounted to the studs in the wall behind the tile otherwise, you'd use it once and have it break. Also they need to be angled correctly.
Maybe talk to some other tenants who may have had this same issue. W/O knowing the rules and regulations for your complex, nobody can really weigh in on this with any sense of surety.
Just be careful until you do get the grab bars installed! Even if you have to pay someone, it will be far cheaper than taking a spill in the tub!!
Can you get one of the bench seats that also has a grab bar?
Do you take a bath or a shower? If a shower the bench would also work, an attachment to convert the shower to a hand held one would be better.
As to paying for the install...many Senior Centers have lists of handymen that will do work for less than what others might charge and some also volunteer to help seniors.
My father and plumber both were adamant when offering advice. Absolutely: grab bars needs to be anchored into studs!
How much weight do you folks think a suctioned grab bar would hold if your parent or spouse had to grab onto it, if he/she began sliding down and pulled on the bar? How long do you think it would remain attached to the wall/tile when that kind of force?
Many grab bars are not designed with the 16 inches needed to have both sides attached to studs. I agree that attaching to studs is ideal. But there are other options.
If you own the property, I do think you will have to pay for these accommodations which , as JoAnn29 says, Medicare and Medicaid might help you pay for this.
We got a very good grab bar with suction cups at Home Depot for about $35. It was easy to install and, in our experience, it will hold the weight of a pretty big guy. Maybe that would work for you?
If the tenant was not disabled prior to moving in, and didn't need grab bar, I don't know if the law requires owners to modify existing structures to accommodate the tenant's new needs.
Not all members will agree, but I had good luck with the bars that suction to the wall. The wall has to be very smooth though. If tiled, the suction cups have to fit on the tiles. It won't suction on grout. My nephews painted wall was rough so didn't work there either. I had a man pull on it and it didn't budge. Later we installed a walk in shower with bars. One was on the inside wall the other as you were getting out of the shower.
I would not go with what the manager says. I find that everyone does not know the disabilities laws. If the County says the complex must install, have them call the manager.
You'd think that in an elderly apartment complex this would be a standard issue or added as needed.
Don't attempt to do this on your own-they are tricky and must be mounted to the studs in the wall behind the tile otherwise, you'd use it once and have it break. Also they need to be angled correctly.
Maybe talk to some other tenants who may have had this same issue. W/O knowing the rules and regulations for your complex, nobody can really weigh in on this with any sense of surety.
Just be careful until you do get the grab bars installed! Even if you have to pay someone, it will be far cheaper than taking a spill in the tub!!
The Harris County rep may have meant that you could get the grab bars for free, but not necessarily the installation.