How to Choose and Place Grab Bars for Elderly Parents

About this video

This short video shows where grab bars help most, what to skip and when to hire a pro. Watch it before you shop.

What this video covers

• The three key spots: by the toilet, inside the tub or shower, and at the entry.
• Why bars should be mounted straight up and down or level, not at a slant.
• Why a towel bar is not a grab bar, even if it looks strong.
• Why suction cup bars are not a safe stand-in for a bar fixed into the wall.
• How to anchor bars firmly into studs or solid backing in the wall.
• When a handyman can do the job and when to call a pro.

Step by step

1. Watch your parent move. Note where they reach for the sink, towel bar or wall for balance.
2. Mark the toilet spot. A bar beside the toilet helps with sitting down and standing up.
3. Mark the tub or shower spots. Plan one bar to help step in and out, and one inside to hold while washing or standing up.
4. Check the wall. Find out if it is tile, fiberglass or drywall, and where the studs are.
5. Choose the bar. Pick a sturdy bar that is easy to grip.
6. Install it firmly. Anchor it into studs or wood or metal backing, or use hardware made for that wall type, such as hollow walls.
7. Test it together. Pull on it firmly to make sure it does not move. Then have your parent try it with you close by.
8. Add the rest of the kit. Add a non-slip mat, a shower chair and a night light.

Questions families ask next

Where should the grab bars go?

Start with the toilet and the tub or shower. A bar by the front door can help with balance while your parent unlocks the door. If your parent leans on walls in the hall, a bar there can help too.

How high should grab bars be?

It depends on your parent’s height and how they move. Before drilling, have your parent stand and sit where the bar will go and mark where their hand falls. An occupational therapist can help.

What if the wall is tile or fiberglass?

These walls need the right drill bits and anchors. If you are not sure what is behind the wall, ask an experienced installer. A bar that pulls loose can cause a fall.

Can a handyman install grab bars?

Often yes, if they have done it before. Ask how they will anchor the bars. In a remodel, a contractor can add backing inside the walls first.

Are there alternatives to grab bars?

A shower chair, a tub transfer bench and a raised toilet seat can all help, and they work well alongside grab bars. Our page on a walk-in shower for an elderly parent covers bigger changes.

Make the rest of the home safer

Grab bars are one part of a safe home. Use our aging in place checklist for the other rooms. You can also learn about a fall risk assessment or browse more home safety guides.

This page is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

KEEP EXPLORING

Keep going with the questions that come next