What is more important? Where you put the grab bar or how you attach
the grab bar? The easy answer would be to say, both are equally
important. However if you were forced
to choose, which would you say is more important?
Vertical Grab Bars Two Heights
I would choose the
location and orientation of the grab bar as the priority. Of course, I am an Occupational Therapist and
I’m aware that a person’s way of moving, their height, their joint mobility,
strength, balance, and many other factors affect where they need a support. For
instance there are 4 phases of rising when a person stands up. You have to look at which phase they are
having the most problem with before determining where to put the grab bar and
whether it should be horizontal or lateral.
If a person has a disease like Parkinson’s disease, they might have
bradykinesia, tremors, rigidity or other postural instability that would create
a need for support in different ways than a person who has arthritis affecting
their knees. A person moving from one
seated position to another, for example from a wheelchair to a toilet, would
need grab bars in a different position than a person who is walking. A person will need a different type of
support for stepping in and out of a shower than they would for getting up off
of a chair or toilet. A grab bar is most useful if it matches a person’s skills, ability and intent.
Wingits
I also quite frankly, rigged the question so I
could answer it.
Superpole by Healthcraft
Of course
making sure that a grab bar is secure and can support the weight and forces
that the grab bar user applies to it is critical. Did you notice that I said “How you attach
the grab bar- not whether it is secure or not.
The point I’m making is that there
are so many ways to securely attach a grab bar and so many types of safe grab
bars, it is sad that some people still position a grab bar based primarily on
where they can find studs. It does take some investigation of what
structure exists and knowledge of how to work with it or around it. This is especially true in situations where
you are adding grab bars to existing structures and the money/time budget
doesn’t allow you the luxury of getting to the studs to build in traditional
blocking. If you ever build or remodel
and fail to provide a variety of blocking or best yet, create continuous
blocking when the wall is open, you are missing a huge opportunity to avoid
problems in the future. Unfortunately
most of the time, we are providing grab bars in homes where there is no
blocking and there are issues such as the gap between many tub/shower surrounds
and the walls behind them. However, between the four basic ways to use the
studs for support and not-so-new-anymore technology such as Wing its™ or Moen
Securemounts™ and alternatives to wall mounted grab bars such as the
Healthcraft Superpole™ there are many
ways to add secure balance support without completely tearing up a
bathroom. There is absolutely no excuse for having the “search for studs” take
priority in grab bar placement.
Traditional Blocking
Put grab bars where
the person using them needs them by using the variety of installation methods
and technologies available to you. Give
us a call if you want to talk grab bars.
There are times when
a basic wall mounted grab bar just won’t do. What do you do If you need balance support or
assistance transferring in the middle of the room? What do you do if you need a support bar in
one spot but then need to move it out of the way? What if you rent, just want to use the
grab bar for a few months, or don’t want
to put holes in your shower or wall surface?
The SuperPole™Systemfrom Healthcraft Products, Inc. is the
answer we use at Home Access Solutions for these situations.
Top Ten Questions:
1. What is a SuperPole™? The SuperPole™System is an award
winning modular support system designed for those requiring assistance with
standing, transferring, or moving. Central to
the system is a stylish floor-to-ceiling grab bar, which provides a secure
structure that can be installed quickly between a floor and ceiling.
2. How Much Weight Can a SuperPole™ hold? The standard Model will support a 300 lb user and the Heavy Duty 450 lb. 3. Is the SuperPole™System only for the
Bathroom? It can be used anywhere in the
home or clinic where you have a structurally sound floor and a ceiling. If you have a drop ceiling, cathedral ceiling
or don’t have a ceiling, there are
accessories or other Healthcraft Products that will provide a secure system. 4. Can you get the SuperPole™ wet? The
standard system is aircraft aluminum powder coated wet. We use it in moist environments outside the
shower. There is a stainless steel
option with a 3- way seal in the base for use inside a shower. 5. Is the SuperPole™ a spring tension bar? Absolutely not! Envision the SuperPole™ more as a joist jack dressed up for a
party. A jack screw inside the pole
allows the pole to push between the floor and joists. The pole can be attached to joists.
6. Is
the SuperPole™
just a pole? The SuperBar™with pivot and lock technology is incredibly useful horizontal grab bar
that can be moved safely. You really
need to see this on the video! There is
also a SuperTrapeze™ and a variety of ceiling adapters.
It is definitely more than a pole. 7. How tall is
a SuperPole™? The
standard height is 93-99”. It can be
custom cut shorter and accessories can extend the pole to up to 140” for some
weight ranges. 8. Is the SuperPole™ hard to install? It is what we call handyman level skill. It
comes with excellent directions and all the tools you need to install it with
the exception of a level and a tape measure.
Remember, if it is installed properly you can safely rely on it. If you
are not equipped to install it properly, you should have a qualified contractor
install it for you.
9. Is the SuperPole™a permanent grab bar? It can be left in place for years with
occasional checks of the jack screw tightness, but it doesn’t have to be
permanent. It is quick to take down so
it is perfect for renters, people in transient housing, or people with
temporary needs.
10. Is the SuperPole™ just for Seniors?
The SuperPole™Systemis useful for anyone of any age who needs a balance
or transfer support.
Check out our video to
see the answers to the Top Ten questions
aboutSuperPoles™
, visit web site www.Healthcraftproducts.com , or email
us at info@HomeAccessSolutions.com and request a complete catalog. If you want to purchase, we offer great
pricing on the poles www.HomeAccessSolutions.com
as well as installation in our service area.
Use the discount code SUPER10 to get an additional discount in January.
You will just have to agree that the SuperPole™System is SIMPLY SUPER!