I’m writing this because my neighbor’s mother this past spring came home from several months of hip surgery, and in a week’s time the family of this woman had ordered 4 different grab bars, 2 different types of shower chairs, and a raised toilet seat. In the end they returned 2 of the grab bars, the 2 different types of shower chairs, and the raised toilet seat (which wasn’t the right height to begin with anyway). All of the equipment sits in a cupboard collecting dust in their bathroom. Why?! Because normally we shop for equipment for the bathroom in the same manner in which we shop for other goods and services – read a few reviews and then buy the middle-priced item and hope for the best.
The above scenario is true for the vast majority of products out there for the bathroom, including grab bars, shower seats, and more. Most are designed for occasional use, ie. by occasional guests for short periods of time. Thus they are not designed for the day in and day out extended use by a person with a permanent disability or chronic condition.
Start with the person, not the product
So first start with the person, not the product! This is a different way of buying than what most buying guides are used to. Here are the first set of questions that need to be answered regarding the user of the equipment. These are not typically questions posed by most buying guides.
- Is the challenge getting up from a seated position, or is it balance while standing?
- Does the person have strength on one side but not the other?
- Are they likely to need more support in six months than they do today?
- How much of the bathroom can realistically be modified, especially in a rental?
As said before, these are not abstract questions and must be answered one by one. The kind of equipment that a person with limited mobility will use every day for years to come must be chosen on the basis of the individual’s specific circumstances. If a person shops for a blender, they would not expect to choose a model on the basis of a few online reviews. But that is exactly how most people choose a piece of bathroom equipment on which they will depend for years to come.
The part where people talk themselves out of spending money (and regret it)
This category of products can cost quite a bit of money to start with, and many people are blinded by this and purchase the cheapest item to start with thinking that they can always replace it when needed. Making a long-term purchase should involve more than comparing prices alone, especially for products that affect everyday comfort and safety. Taking time to explore reliable digital insights and technology trends can help buyers evaluate quality, durability, and overall value before making an informed decision. But “when needed” always seems to mean “never”. These products are meant to be temporary and can be very flimsy until they start to wobble and eventually fall apart. Most people don’t want to draw attention to the fact that they can’t afford to buy the best product, so they try to hide the fact that it is falling apart.
When selecting the appropriate bathroom aids for your needs it is very important to note the weight rating of any grab bars, toilet grab rails, shower grab bars and any other bathroom aid that you require. Initially this may seem like a rather insignificant factor when choosing from the wide variety of bathroom support equipment available, however this factor can have a huge impact on the sturdiness and structural integrity of the product. Unfortunately, most buying guides do not draw attention to this vital factor and can often list the weight rating of a product in the detailed product description several paragraphs down. In order to avoid purchasing a substandard product it is essential to seek out the highest weight rating possible for any of the necessary grab bars for your bathroom. For example, a high quality grab bar with a weight rating of 150kg would be far superior to a similar grab bar with a weight rating of 100kg. However, it is also very important to remember that the peak load applied to any grab bars can in fact be up to double the weight of the individual using the product, which highlights just how important it is to take the weight rating of any bathroom aids very seriously in order to avoid any potential accidents or injuries.
When it comes to the quality of the materials used for your bathroom support equipment it is generally best to go with a powder-coated steel as this holds up extremely well in bathrooms that have high humidity levels and are exposed to lots of water etc. Chrome plated objects can pit and corrode quickly in these conditions. However stainless steel is even better but will be more expensive. For the shower chairs make sure the feet have good rubber tips that grip well to the floor. Cheap rubber tips can crack and split quickly within months which is not great as you would expect your shower chair to last longer.
A quick comparison: fixed vs. freestanding equipment
| Feature | Fixed/wall-mounted | Freestanding/portable |
| Stability | Very high when installed correctly | Moderate, depends on floor surface |
| Installation | Requires drilling, wall anchors | No tools needed |
| Best for | Long-term, owned homes | Rentals, travel, short recovery |
| Cost over time | Lower (lasts years) | Can add up with replacements |
| Flexibility | Fixed position | Can be repositioned or removed |
Many would assume fixed grab bars are better than freestanding ones but there are so many situations that this wouldn’t be the case.
How does it work? (or not)
Toilet safety rails for bathrooms are also available on the market. When purchasing a toilet safety rail for the bathroom there are some things to look for in terms of how the rail is opened and closed. As a rule most people with limited mobility and using a toilet safety rail will have some form of arthritis in their hands and or experience some form of tremors with their hands. This means that when opening and closing the rail it is essential that no fine motor actions are required i.e. using fingers and or thumb. In terms of opening and closing a good quality toilet safety rail for the bathroom would be one that can be opened and closed with one touch of a button. This would be ideal. However an even better option would be for the rail to open and close automatically.
Online purchases need to state in the detailed description of the bathroom aid or toilet aid how it is locked or adjusted and this information should not be vague or non existent. It is very important that the user can tell if the item will be easy enough to use for themselves prior to making the purchase.
The armrests on a seated aid come in all shapes and sizes. They can be wide or narrow, and short or long. As someone with limited arm movement and arthritic shoulders, I can tell you that the armrests on a seated aid are one of the most important features. Adjustable armrests are by far the best option. Fixed armrests are either too wide or too narrow for your arms, and while this may not be a problem for someone with full use of their arms, for someone with limited arm movement, it can be a disaster.
One thing most guides won’t actually tell you
Firstly, buy one item first and live with it for two weeks and then buy the next piece of bathroom aid equipment. The bathroom is a very small space that can very quickly fill up with items. It is also a very awkward space to maneuver around in at the best of times but once you have started to bring in lots of different pieces of bathroom aid equipment, then the space becomes an obstacle course and it can be very frustrating for everyone involved.
The other thing is that as a condition is temporary it can become an obstacle as it changes. The bathroom fills up with lots of new gear and suddenly the space to move in the bathroom becomes an obstacle course. So while it is very tempting to fill the bathroom with lots of new gear in one weekend after someone has come home from hospital, it is far better to slow down, buy less than you think you need and get it right before you get more of it. Your future self, and honestly your future cupboard space, will be quietly, sincerely grateful.
Go slow. Buy less than you are convinced you ‘need’. Get it right the first time. Your future self and your future storage spaces will thank you.
