Who has tried the "As Seen on TV" Safety Grip Handle?

[GetGlowing]

My dad has some mobility issues and has seen the suction "Safety Grip Handles" for the tub on tv and thinks they might be helpful for him when he travels. I'm looking for reviews from anyone who has tried it, or has a suggestion for a similar, better, product. Thanks!

 

[Smile&Nod]

Haven't used them before but another easy and cheap suggestion is just to request a handicap accessible room - no extra charge and while lots of requests are just that - if you reserve a handicap room i think they assign the room at time of reservation. Just traveled with my parents who need grab bars etc and it took longer on hold to confirm the reservation because they were grabbing a specific room for us.

 

[BillSears]

I bought one to use in strange hotels while traveling. It didn't work well at all and often would pop right off when I put pressure on it. There were some rare places where it would get a good grip and be secure. But other places where it would slide or even worse it would seem to have a good grip then in the middle of a transfer it would pop off.

Overall I do not recommend it for atyone who will be using it for anything other then steadying oneself.

BTW the I do always request a roll-in shower room. But sometimes the grab bars are where they want them to be not where I need them to be.

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

We have a pair of the portable ones, but not the as seen on TV set. We got ours from a Medical Supply store.
They work pretty well and asst DW with standing, the only thing you have to be careful with is making sure that the suction cups are slighty damp (forms a better seal) and that you aren't putting them near a grout line on the tiles.

Like Bill stated above, "Overall I do not recommend it for anyone who will be using it for anything other then steadying oneself."
.

 

[brat]

careful with that one, a friend of mine got hurt using the suction type. We use a medical one we bring with if Mom is not getting a handicapped room.It bolts onto the tubside.Many hotels put grabrails in non-handicapped rooms so ask your hotel befor you buy.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have heard the same thing about them as the other posters - don't rely on them. They may work in theory, but I would not trust anything that is not bolted to the wall. I doubt there are any suction cups that can really hold the weight of a person, especially on a wall. A too smooth wall will have trouble with slipping and a too rough wall will not give a good seal.

Many of the WDW resorts have put grab bars in the tubs for all first floor rooms and it is possible to get an accessible room with a roll in shower or one with a regular shower/tub and grab bars.
As Bill mentioned, they are not always where you want them to be (they will meet ADA guidelines which are very general to try to meet many conditions, but may not be best for an individual).

 

[SueM in MN]

careful with that one, a friend of mine got hurt using the suction type. We use a medical one we bring with if Mom is not getting a handicapped room.It bolts onto the tubside.Many hotels put grabrails in non-handicapped rooms so ask your hotel befor you buy.

Many people use those bolt on type even in their homes. They are secure and work well for many people.

 

[csharpwv]

My mom has them in her shower and they are exactly where she put them three years ago - and they have never popped off.

As said before - you have to moisten the back of the suction cup for best connection and contact.

I doubted them when I saw them on TV - but they are good. I have pulled as hard as I can on them and they didn't even budge.

The shower wall is very smooth - and she doesn't apply side to side pressure.

However, when we travel with my parents I make sure to reserve a room with roll in shower for her.

 

[GetGlowing]

Thanks, everyone. After posting the message I thought to google for reviews and found a load of negative comments on Amazon for this specific product, but others recommended a different item from a medical supply company.

We stayed in the new tower of Harrah's Cherokee Casino hotel last night and had a handicapped room. The bathroom was GREAT! It was huge with a lot of room around the toilet, which would be great if you were transferring from a chair, and a roll-in shower with an adjustable-height showerhead and a built-in shower seat. Unfortunately, older hotels don't always have facilities that are nice (and I'm not talking about the Disney properties, obviously, because I know they go out of the way to provide for guests).