Put Grab Bars When You Need Them

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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.  

Top Ten Questions about SuperPoles™.

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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™ System from 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™ System is 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 about SuperPoles™ , 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!

Use the simple Holiday light wireless remote in bigger and better ways

The simple and inexpensive wireless remote many of us use to light holiday decorations can be used to help seniors or people with disabilities in many every day activities.  Most of us use these remotes to avoid going out in the cold for our exterior lights or to avoid crawling under the Christmas tree.  Imagine for a minute, what life is like for a person who has difficulty handling light switches, phones, tv remotes, or thermostats due to disabilities. What you can accomplish with a tool like the wireless remote then moves from convenience to necessity.

Devices very similar to the wireless remote available in hardware stores everywhere for less than $25 could be a powerful life-changing tool.   Electronic Aids to Daily Living or EADL are what these devices are called when used by a person with a disability to achieve a greater level of independence at home, school, work, or in recreation.  EADL range from the generic and fairly simple, such as devices that use existing household electrical system with  plug in receivers and transmitters like X-10 http://www.x10pro.com, to the specialized and often complex devices that operate a wide variety of electric/battery operated equipment such as Quartet technology http://www.qtiusa.com.  EADLs enable people to do things like operate emergency call equipment, open doors, operate telephones, control lights, fans, TVs, or audio systems.

A person with very limited physical abilities would benefit from a professional assessment of their goals and skills as well as practice with the equipment in order to make sure they get something that will actually work for them.  Not all therapists are experienced in EADL to make these assessments, but we are lucky enough in our area to have some professionals and clinics that do.  Give us a call if you are looking for referrals. You can also search the  Equipment portion of the Assistive Technology website in Nebrasksa www.at4all.com and the Assistive Technology website in Iowa www.iowacompass.org.

Whatever you do, don’t let the name EADL frighten you away from doing simple, common sense adaptations though.  What a powerful safety tool, something as simple as a wireless remote could be for an older person who would like to turn lights on in the path to the bathroom at night.

So share the news and share the video.  You can use everyday items like a holiday wireless remote to improve independence and safety for people you love.