In modern society, great attention is paid to people with disabilities. Even the affairs most usual for a healthy person for a patient sometimes become a test. Daily hygiene can be facilitated by installing special bath handrails.
Pros and cons
According to the law, all social facilities (hospitals, sanatoriums, boarding schools, etc.) must be equipped with handrails. In shopping and entertainment centers, at gas stations, food points, booths for the disabled and inactive people are equipped. And in private houses and apartments in which a sick person lives, such devices are simply necessary for his comfortable life.
As the main advantages of the handrail for the bathroom for the disabled and the elderly, it is worth noting:
- Easy operation, no need to install bulky, intricate designs.
- Independence. With the help of handrails and other assistive devices, people with disabilities and the elderly can take care of themselves.
- Sustainability. Regardless of the method of attachment to a wall or floor, the design holds a person's weight up to 150 kg.
- Universality. Modern production allows you to choose a model from various materials, for lefties or righties, at any price category.
- Durability. Quality products are not affected by water, corrosion, etc.
If we talk about the shortcomings of the handrails for the bath, it is worth noting some of the complexity of their installation. Depending on the design, certain standards must be observed during installation: tilt angle, height, distance from the wall, etc. Despite the compactness, most often the devices do not fit into the interior of the room, but are a necessary measure.
Stationary devices
This design is a corner or straight wall handrails. As a rule, they are installed over the bathtub for the disabled and overweight people. They are a completely reliable device.
Floor standing fixtures are mounted only in bathrooms with a large area.
Hinged and swivel
Constructions with such a mechanism, on the contrary, are equipped with small bathrooms. They allow sedentary people to move around in a limited space area and, if necessary, independently recline them.
Folding and swivel bath handrails for the elderly and disabled can be optionally equipped with a hook and a shelf for toiletries. One of the main advantages of such products is the possibility of free access to household and sanitary items. In addition, cleaning the room is not complicated by any obstacles. The design folds compactly and is easy to install if necessary.
Steps
It is becoming increasingly difficult for older people to take a bath, especially if there are problems with the back, joints, poor coordination of movements. In such cases, the use of special steps-handrails is recommended. They facilitate immersion and exit from the bath, allow you to serve yourself without much physical effort. As a rule, the design consists of one or two steps with a supporting handrail for the bathroom, which is mounted on the wall above or near it.
There are added varieties. One of them can be seen in the photo below.
Handrails with two steps are more stable and higher, but they are characterized by a greater mass in comparison with single-stage. The design can be used temporarily for people during the rehabilitation period after fractures or other injuries that restrict movement.
Handrails on the suction cups
This type of device is made of high strength plastic and equipped with suction cups. The design is characterized by mobility, it can always be rearranged in a new place, taken with you in case of a trip or removed at the end of hygiene procedures.
The disadvantages of such bath handrails are insufficient reliability, a hand may slip off the soapy surface, the suction cups may not be well attached or the support will not withstand the weight, which will lead to a person falling. Even the best designs cause the elderly to fear injury. Moreover, the suction cups wear out quickly and it is essential that you always have a spare kit on hand.
Rigging handrails
This option resembles stationary devices, with the difference in their increased strength, which is achieved due to the simultaneous double fastening. Fixing such handrails for the bathroom on the wall and to the floor can withstand even very large loads. They can be installed both along the wall, sink or bathtub, and perpendicularly near the toilet, shower.
The disadvantages are the massiveness of the handrails, due to which the free space of the room is significantly reduced, and the inability to fold or move them.
Installation requirements
On the basis of the regulatory act under the number 59.13330.2012 "On the accessibility of buildings and structures for inactive groups of the population" there are prescribed requirements for the installation of handrails. For disabled people and people with disabilities, unhindered access to rooms for various purposes should be provided.
If a person lives in the house who needs such devices, it is better to entrust the installation work to specialists. Improper installation of the handrails in the bathroom for the elderly can cause injury or make the structure completely useless. When choosing devices, it is better to consult with the seller. Depending on the size of the room, the condition of the patient, individual needs and other factors, he will advise the best option that meets all the requirements.
The equipment of public places with handrails must be carried out by a team of specialists. Otherwise, the expert commission for the acceptance of buildings may not allow the commissioning of the facility if the work is not carried out in accordance with SNiP.
As a rule, bath handrails on the wall come complete with all the necessary fittings, fixtures and assembly and installation instructions. In rare cases, you may need to buy decorative items. Installation in your own living room is carried out in accordance with the individual characteristics of the person (growth, build). Certain diseases lead to impaired motility of the upper limbs (stroke, paralysis, etc.), in this case, during installation, you need to focus on a healthy hand.
Materials for the manufacture
In the manufacture of handrails, the following materials are most often used:
- steel;
- chromium;
- brass;
- reinforced plastic.
Steel structures are the most durable, usually it is from this material that stationary handrails for a rigid fix bathtub are made. They can be coated with enamel or other spraying for an aesthetically pleasing look. Steel handrails harmoniously fit into the interior of the room, they are easy to care for, including using disinfectants.
Chrome products are recommended for use in bathrooms with excessive humidity. Thanks to this coating, you can be sure that the hand does not slip and firmly holds the support.
Brass is characterized by high anti-corrosion properties. Handrails made of this material can hold a person's weight up to 160 kg, which indicates their strength and reliability.
Impact resistant plastic is used for the production of small structures that can be used in small rooms.
Features of installation, recommendations of specialists
To avoid troubles, some nuances should be taken into account when installing the handrails:
- the structure is preferably fixed to the load-bearing wall. If it is not provided in the bathroom, it is necessary to strengthen one of the surfaces, especially if the patient's weight is more than 100 kg, and only then attach the handrails;
- next to the toilet, devices are best installed on both sides;
- for safety reasons, it is worth giving preference to designs with rubberized nozzles;
- near the bath, the handrail must be mounted horizontally along the wall to which it is adjacent;
- the design for the sink is better to choose a U-shape to provide unhindered access from any angle. The distance between the sink and the handrail should not exceed 10 cm;
- the door to the bathroom should open "on itself." The ideal option is the lack of a threshold;
- any design is selected based on the dimensions of the room.
Handrails allow you to make the life of a sick person more independent. They also make it easier for loved ones to care for the elderly and disabled.