How to Bathe Safer at Home with Grab Bars

Adding small security touches to your daily routine can make life feel a lot easier. Security can mean different things: a latch on a screen door, a parent holding their child’s hand or even a doorbell camera at your front door. For seniors, security looks like anticipating needs around the home with minor adjustments for accessibility. 

Balance is an important factor to consider throughout the home since falls are the leading cause of injury among those aged 65+. Bringing a grab bar into your bath is one way to add peace of mind and security to your bathroom without any additional fuss. Learn all about grab bars, the types available and what installation looks like below.

Types of Grab Bars

There are three types of bars you’ll find in the KOHLER_® Walk-In Bath to increase stability during your soak:

• Handrails: Part of the tub itself, handrails are built-in, indented handholds located right on the rim. These add a good place to hold on when transitioning in or out of the bath. 
• Grab Bars: You’ll find one installed on the wall of your bathtub. While also useful for transitioning in or out of the bath, their intended use is to add a place to hold when sitting, standing or washing. You can also install additional grab bars anywhere around the bath for additional stability. These added grab bars meet ADA compliance standards, meaning you can bathe with confidence.
• Barres: Inspired by ballet barres, these serve as steadying bars to grip when transitioning in or out of your walk-in bath. They’re also wide enough to double as storage space for your bathing essentials!

Benefits of Grab Bars

There are several reasons grab bars can be a useful addition to your bathroom. Discover how this humble accessory can be a pivotal part of creating a secure environment for your peaceful beginning or end-of-day bathtime routine. 

Fall Prevention

The most obvious benefit of grab bars is, of course, adding a stabilizing force for moving in your tub, especially when water is present. This makes them valuable accessories to consider adding to your bathroom, especially if you or a loved one need a little extra help with mobility. Combine this with an anti-slip mat just outside your bathtub for easy transfer in and out. Preventative measures like these are key to a safer and more peaceful bathing experience. 

Improve Independence

With grab bars, you or your loved one can enjoy the bath in safer, more comfortable privacy. By adding measures like grab bars that make transferring in and out of the bathtub safer, you can take back your independence in the bathroom. Small touches that make everyday processes more convenient, like grab bars or accessible storage, add up to a soothing yet secure bathtime.

Installing a Grab Bar

Debating installing a horizontal or vertical grab bar in your shower? The Walk-In Bath comes with a handrail and grab bar as key features in our design, but for a shower/tub combination, a grab bar should be installed partway up the wall to enable safer movement when showering. Additional grab bars are available in plenty of styles, sizes and finishes to suit your bathroom’s style and your personal needs. These can be installed wherever needed! 

Improve Your Bathing Security 

We’re experts in building a quality product that supports your daily life—it’s something we’ve been perfecting since 1873. Our Walk-In Baths are made with thoughtful details to enable your independence and comfort with every soak. Learn more about a Walk-In Bath of your own with a free estimate!