One of the simplest, yet most effective ways to provide additional accessibility in your home is through the use of grab rails. Grab rails (sometimes called ‘grab bars’) are an essential safety feature that helps prevent falls and offers additional confidence and security when using the home.

As they are relied on to provide vital support when needed, grab rails have to be installed properly – and choosing the right grab rail to provide that safe, comfortable, living environment is key. At John Ford Group, we have the expertise that you can lean on when it comes to grab rails!

Read on to learn the important details for choosing the right grab rails for your home.

The Benefits of Grab Rails

Let’s face it, it’s rare that anyone chooses grab rails for their aesthetic, though there are some very fetching styles. However, grab rails provide several essential benefits for those with mobility or stability issues. Grab rails are:

  • Perfect for preventing falls – Perhaps the most obvious use of the grab rail is to stop a fall. When placed in a well-considered location, a grab rail can be relied on to provide that extra stability when needed.
  • Key to providing confidence – One of the biggest issues that occurs for those with mobility issues moving around the home is that of confidence. Places that were previously comfortable and welcoming environments seem suddenly treacherous. Grab rails situated at key points can bring back that comfort, increasing confidence that it’s safe to move around the home unaided.
  • Unobtrusive – Some home accessibility options can feel a little bulky and in the way. Grab rails are a subtle background element that doesn’t take away from the general layout or style of the room; in this way, they are relatively low impact.
  • Versatile – The simplicity of a grab rail means they are also extremely versatile, they’re as much use in bathrooms as kitchens, and even outside. There is rarely a space that doesn’t benefit from a grab rail.
  • Cost-effective – Unlike many more technologically advanced home accessibility products or an alteration that requires substantial redevelopment work to a room or area, grab rails are extremely budget-friendly.
  • Easy to install – You can put in a grab rail yourself with a little DIY, but it’s better to get a professional to do the job to ensure the proper safety and ideal placement of the grab rail. Even here though, the ease of installation is important, cutting down on labour time (and costs) and meaning your home can be made accessible in a far shorter time with significantly less disruption than other options. The John Ford Group is here to provide an experienced professional service for your grab rail installation.

Choosing the Right Grab Rails for Your Home

The Different Types of Grab Rails

Grab rails actually come in a variety of styles and shapes, to suit your home and need as best as possible. These include:

  • Straight grab rails – Very versatile, straight grab rails are a standard, well-constructed, sturdy bar that can be used in a wide range of locations.
  • Angled grab rails – Merely a straight bar fitted at an angle, angled grab rails are particularly useful in showers and bathtubs, requiring less pressure at the wrist than a horizontal bar.
  • Curved and wavy grab rails – Adding a little style, curved and wavy grab rails can be more appealing visually, but importantly they offer the same strong grip with additional support.
  • Bath rails – Part of the grab rail family, bath rails attach to the outside of the bath and assist with getting in and out of the tub.
  • Hinged grab rails – Fixed with a hinge to the wall, these sturdy bars lift up and down to move them out of the way and are typically used to provide extra support when using a toilet.
  • Suction grab rails – Suction grab rails do exist, designed to be portable or for use in temporary situations. They can be useful, but do not provide the same level of long-term safe support as a permanent bar and should not be relied on as a permanent solution.

All grab rails are sturdy metal bars, though they do come in a range of materials, including stainless steel, chrome-plated steel with white or metal finishes, and plastic coated to provide extra grip. It is possible to fit wooden grab rails in some situations, though they are less cost-effective than the standard steel-based versions.

It’s important to get the right grab rail to fit, with a range of sizes available from 400mm to 900mm. A professional fitter will properly measure and assess the area to ensure any fitted grab rails are ideal for the location.

 

Key Areas for Grab Bar Installation

The primary areas where grab rails may be considered include:

The Bathroom

Being a wet area, the bathroom is especially hazardous. Grab Rails can be located:

  • In the shower area
  • To assist in the bath
  • Near the sink
  • Beside the toilet, including hinged grab rails
  • Near the doorway, especially if the room is large

Choosing the Right Grab Rails for Your Home

The Kitchen

With worktops and tables often providing additional support for mobility, the need for grab rails is somewhat lessened. However, depending on the kitchen design, grab rails can be very helpful in the following areas:

  • By doors, especially back doors where the floor may be more slippery
  • Near utilities, such as washing machine and dryer
  • Above low cupboards, to help when bending
  • In larders

The Bedroom

Bedrooms do have furniture that can be very helpful for mobility, though it is important that anything used to provide support is sturdy and properly fitted. Grab rails can help in:

  • The doorway
  • By the bed
  • Near windows, especially those with a good view!
  • Near low cupboards or chests of drawers

The Hallway and Stairs

Stair handrails are essential for mobility. If they do not already exist, they should be considered a priority as part of the grab rail installation. Additionally, grab rails can help:

  • At the top and bottom of stairs
  • On landing areas
  • Along the hallway
  • In any under-stair cupboard

Outdoors

Grab rails are an essential part of garden accessibility. Consider their placement:

  • By doors
  • Along walkways and paths
  • At steps
  • By bin areas

Choosing the Right Grab Rails for Your Needs

Not all grab rails are equal! It’s important that the individual’s needs and abilities are considered fully before planning the grab rail installation. Often, it can be helpful to consult a specialist, such as an occupational therapist (OT) when determining the best locations for a grab rail. At the John Ford Group, we work hand-in-hand with OTs to ensure that the right, unbiased, access considerations have been made. We provide our specialist knowledge to help you make informed choices that help you improve your home in the best possible way.

Grab rails don’t have to look like hospital equipment – there are lots of options for style and some are even disguised as other things, such as shower shelves or toilet roll holders. Making the home accessible for those with stability or mobility issues doesn’t mean ruining the look!

Getting a Professional Installation with The John Ford Group

Grab rails are a very simple, and very effective way to improve the safety of the home and provide security and mobility independence to those that live there. To provide a comprehensive level of support, it’s important that the grab rails are professionally fitted and checked. A professional installation by JFG means there’s no risk of poor positioning or less-than-perfect fitting. Our team will discuss the needs of the grab rail users and make sure that all areas are properly covered with expertly fitted bars that provide the confident safety that’s needed.

Contact us today to discuss your grab rail requirements with an expert.