Grab bars and towel bars look similar, but they’re not the same. Safety grab bars are made of heavy-duty materials and designed to withstand significant weight. Towel bars are often made of lightweight materials capable of supporting much lighter loads.
If you’re having a horizontal grab bar installed in your shower, consider this: Many safety and senior care experts recommend choosing one with a textured finish, which helps wet hands grip a wet bar more securely.
In larger shower enclosures, it is sometimes recommended that you place additional grab bars in various locations within the shower. This will help enable safe movement around the enclosure and also accommodate props such as shower chairs.
In addition to convenience and safety, you want your shower grab bar to blend into your décor. Luckily, many manufacturers produce strong, stable grab bars in a variety of finishes, such as nickel, brass, chrome, and white.
The most common positions for grab bar installation is horizontal or vertical. Vertical bars give you additional balance while standing. Horizontal bars are good for helping with sitting or rising, and are also good for grabbing in case of a slip or fall.
The best shower safety grab bars combine form and function. The shape and finish should be attractive, but they must also be made of durable materials, designed to withstand significant pull weight and installed properly.