Everyone who has had kids knows that to whatever extent, the house had to be childproofed. Cover the outlets for probing screwdrivers, locked 2nd story windows to keep super-kid from donning a sheet and trying to fly, properly stored chems to keep the young scientists wondering instead of experimenting and now, monitors throughout the house just to make sure junior isn’t headed for the master bedroom at an inconvenient time. But what about Senior Proofing? A couple of years ago I installed a couple of safety bars in the shower and one next to the commode and to tell the truth, I don’t know what I did before having one in the shower. I never used to reach out to hold anything whilst showering but for whatever reason, I now do and…I like it ! Now, in conjunction with the safety bars, whilst drying off I happened to remember that I have another one stored and maybe I might want to take down a towel bar and replace it with a safety bar. It’s not the fanciest thing in the world but it is stainless steel and won’t come out of the wall or break if one needs to grab onto something. Granted, we only have one towel bar (as opposed to a towel peg) and it’s mostly for guests who, after using the potty do not have to wipe their hands on their shirts after washing. Other than that, the rickety thing just hangs on the wall collecting cobwebs so why not replace it with a safety bar? Yeah, I gotta talk to the queen first but I think she might like the idea too. Just a little extra to help keep one from falling and busting something useful, like a hip or something. So, that’s my one idea for the day but I imagine there are a gazillion other ideas to keep one from getting damaged in one’s own home or barn or back yard. Let’s talk about a few……
Since you brought up the towel bar, one of my sons installed a towel bar/safety bar in our bathroom, as I was having difficulty getting off the stool when my back was broken. It is not as good a regular safety bar, as it is only certified for 250 pounds instead of the 350 pounds ( I think) that is required for a real safety bar, but it is good enough for me and it doesn't look like a safety bar.
We installed safety bars all over my mom's house. Anywhere she had to turn a corner, there was a safety bar.
I want new carpet upstairs, and I told my husband we should get the stairs carpeted in case I tumble all the way to the bottom. He doesn't like the idea because the stairs are oak.
Yeah, I too have an aversion toward covering up good hardwood but… how about those non-skid safety strips? One strip an inch or so from the leading edge of the step might catch a skid and prevent a fall. They come in nearly all colors and shades so the right ones should enhance the stairs and not take away from the beauty of the wood. I think I’d stay away from the non-skid yellow ducks and pink bunnies though. To that, I do wonder why folks, when they’re in a decorative mood, inevitably choose ducks and bunnies for fall prevention in the bath tub? How about a moose or bear or tweeked out race car engines or chain saws or M1A1 tanks? Or a hunter shooting a duck or a bunnie for a great compromise.
I have a support bar in the kitchen but its set kind of low in the bottom drawer alongside the fridge and relying on it too much can result in less stability.......
We think the bars should be mandatory for any shower regardless of age. More people slip and fall in tubs and bathrooms than anywhere else in a house or apt. - so I read at least. Commodes are so low we started using a lifting seat several years back. It helps but still a bit unsightly - to me.