What do grab bars and footballs have in common? Actually both are attempted by amateurs, but professional application requires knowledge and skill. That may be a stretch, but hopefully we captured your attention and you will read on about grab bars which we know most people don’t find nearly as exciting as watching their favorite team in action.
People aren’t usually excited when we suggest that they may want to install a grab bar or two. They believe that a person needs to be totally infirm, or older than they are, in order to need a grab bar. We hear statements like “ Well, I don’t want my bathroom to look like a gas station”, “I don’t want to affect the value of my home”, or “When I need one, I’ll have my brother Bobby run over here and put it in.” We don’t believe that grab bars have to look horrible, they don’t detract from value or beauty when done properly, and we have burning curiosity about how a person is going to anticipate the exact moment of need and get “brother Bobby” over there the day before they fall. We know grab bars installed after the fact aren’t nearly as life saving as those thoughtfully installed well before the need arises.
Here’s the deal. All people, at any time of their lives reach out and grab things when they start to fall. A grab bar is simply something designed to be grabbed. It stays put when you grab it as opposed to a towel rack or a walker, or the corner of a dresser. A grab bar used for balance instead of something unreliable like the corner of a sink, doesn’t contribute to the risk of falling. Also, who says grab bars need to look medicinal and drab? If that is your choice, fine! We like to use colors to compliment décor as well as increase safety, by making them easier to see. There are over 180 colors we can use with Best Bath System grab bars. We have a client who recently chose a red which matched her wall paper border, but it inspired us as it also matched the color of many Nebraskan’s favorite football team! Now that is an exciting grab bar!
Grab bar color can really be fun and functional, but you also need to keep two other things in mind to make a grab bar actually work for you. We provide professional grab bar installation, but we are often see the results of mistakes people make thinking that selecting and mounting a grab bar is a simple process.
Here is our critical rule number one: Make sure that the grab bar is securely mounted to some structure in the house or with newer technology blind fasteners designed for grab bars. Knowledge and skill with various blind fasteners and blocking techniques allow you to be able to work with critical rule number two.
Critical rule number two: You must put the grab bars where they are needed based on the individual’s abilities and what they are using the bar for. This seems like a simple concept, but you wouldn’t believe how many homes we walk into where the decision for grab bar location was based solely on where the home-owner or handyman could find studs. A grab bar isn’t magic. You have to reach it easily for it to really be any good. Your therapist or our access designers can help you decide placement based on your mobility, height, strength, and how you are using the device while you move.
So, join us as cheerleaders for bathroom safety! Share the news and this video with people who need to know about grab bars – that is everybody! Remember the best time to install is before you need it, give some thought as to where a bar really needs to be placed for maximum effectiveness, and get it installed properly. If you are into color whether to enhance safety or to match décor or your favorite team colors we encourage you to go for it!
