Grab Bar Safety
As the Centers for Disease Control recommend that older adults use grab bars in the bathroom to reduce falls, it is crucial that grab bars in the bathing area be installed properly so they do not pull out during a fall. It is well reported in the literature that the best installation methods to meet both building codes and safety standards are to install grab bars either into blocking, into studs, or into tile using a special fastening system. However, many handyman and city-funded agencies installed grab bars with only anchor bolts and stainless steel screws, directly into the bathroom tile wall without regard to the placement of the studs. Several community agencies who serve low income older adults were hesitant to utilize these city-funded services, as were afraid their clients might sustain injuries during a fall.GEM convened a preliminary meeting in 2001 to examine the issue. The first meeting only brought the complexities of the problem to the forefront: lack of documentation on the incidents of grab bars that pull out of the wall when installed with only anchor bolts, cost increase of utilizing methods other than anchor bolts, and confusion over what installation methods did and didn't meet New York City Code requirements. A second meeting was held in 2002 (see Meeting Notes).
