OT - Grab Bars in Bath Tub - HELP!

[SeptDisney]

Hello All -

I normally don't post in this forum, but I was hoping to get some help. Last night my elderly mother was unable to get out of the bathtub & got so stuck that we had to call the fire dept. to get her out. She thinks that if she had a grab bar in her bath, she would have been able to get out w/o getting stuck. The problem is that the bathtub & bathtub wall are all one solid piece (maybe made of plastic? I know it isn't tile.) Does anyone have any experience installing grab bars on this type of tub?

I know that they make "suction-type" grab bars, but she is over 200 pounds & I'm afraid they would give way if she pulled too hard. If anyone has any experience with this type of grab bar I would love to hear about that too.

Thanks!
Kim

 

[idchafee]

A friend of mine had a similar issue with his dad (although in his case it was getting out of his favorite easy chair which had basically become a bottomless pit). What he did was install one of those grab-chain trapeze things in the ceiling. He screwed the mounting assembly into the joist, then just dangled the chain with the grab bar on it down to a level where his dad could reach it. Seemed to work pretty well.

edit:
http://www.healthcraftproducts.com/e2trapezeceiling.htm

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know where you are, but check with your county or state department of Social Services for services. You can also google "Council on Aging" for your state - most states have one and many of them are able to provide services such as safely putting in things like grab bars. Often the services are free of charge or reduced cost.

I am going to move this thread from the disABILITIES Board, which is more about WDW trips to the disABILITIES Community Board where it will be on topic.

 

[DizneyGurly]

I purchased a suction type grab bar for my grandmother. She has the same kind of bathtub you described where the tub and wall are one piece. It would come loose everytime she tried to use it. It just wouldn't hold her weight. She weighs 204.

 

[disneymarie]

I used a seat for the tub and removable adjustable shower head for my Mom.
I also had a grab bar on the tub side, not the wall side. I actually use the tub bar myself now, I have bad disc.

 

[BeckyScott]

My MIL has a seat in her tub, too. It might work for now, until you can get a grab bar properly installed.

I think you'd have to get a screw-in bar and make sure it is mounted right onto stud. I don't know that the "paneling" or whatever you'd call that stuff, the enclosure, would be strong enough to support weight by itself.

I personally would call a contractor, just to make sure it was done properly, but then again I'm not good at that sort of thing. You really don't want it to decide to fall off the wall.

 

[merryweather20]

http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/english/home_health_care/everyday/bathroom.html

I use the Bathtub Safety Rail (very bottom picture B) it screws shut over the side of any tub. It is very secure, and heavy duty.

I agree with those who suggested a bath chair. It wasn't that she had difficulty getting out, she couldn't get out at all. I don't think just adding wall mounted bars would cut it for your Mom. A tub mounted grab bar would steady her stepping in and out of the tub as well as sitting and rising from the bath seat. I'm not sure about in the States but stores up here often have a small "demo" bathroom that would let your Mom try out such a tub mounted bar, and a variety of bath seats.

 

[SueM in MN]

The places I mentioned are usually paid for by your taxes and also by contributions. Some of those places will actually send someone out to evaluate the situation and the needs of the person.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

You can hire ppl who are specially trained on installing accessible features to do this for you. We did that for my uncle when he was almost paralyzed from a virus from a botched radiation treatment (docs said he'd never walk again - he is a miracle, can even drive again and doesn't need his cane anymore!). They did the job very quickly, in just a few days for making their bathroom accessible, installing a long outdoor ramp from one area to another where previously the only walkway had two sets of steps, etc.