An evaluation of grab bars to meet the needs of elderly people

This paper reports the findings of a study that evaluated the ability of 66 ambulatory and 50 nonambulatory older people to toilet independently and safely. A repeated measures research design included eight test trials in which participants got on and off a toilet using four different grab bar configurations each at two different toilet seat heights. Each trial was video-taped in order to determine patterns of grab bar use for each toilet height/grab bar configuration. In addition, pretrial and posttrial interviews were conducted to determine participant preferences and perceived safety. Results of this study indicate that some grab bar configurations that were not code-compliant were preferred and were used more often than configurations that were designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. These findings raise questions as to whether legally mandated grab bar requirements are appropriate for older individuals.