If you have aging loved ones, or are currently caring for your elderly relative, you know how important it is to make sure their living space is set up in a way that is safe. One easy way to do that is to install safety grab bars. Let’s take a quick look at three reasons to install a safety grab bar in your home, or in the home of an aging loved one.

Stability

Falls are one of the top reasons that the elderly visit the emergency room. Often times, these falls occur in the bathtub or shower, or near the toilet. By installing a safety grab bar in and near these areas, you can offer stability to your loved ones. If you place the safety grab bar near the toilet or bath tub, it can steady them as they sit and aid them in standing. When secured properly, they can be a great help to your aging loved ones in the bathroom.

Security

If you have ever been through a time when you felt unsteady, or nervous about your ability to complete a task, you can empathize with your aging loved ones. Living with chronic fear that they might fall can actually cause physical symptoms in older adults. They can experience a weakened immune system, cardiovascular damage, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome. Long-term chronic fear can lead to depression, fatigue, or accelerated aging. You definitely don’t want any of these health issues plaguing your loved one, especially when they are already nervous and anxious about a certain task that may be as simple as taking a shower. Give your loved one the security they need by installing a safety grab bar.

Self-Reliance

A safety grab bar can also offer your elderly loved one independence. As we age, it’s often disheartening to realize we need assistance to do tasks we once could do well on our own. Rather than having to ask for help getting in and out of the bathtub or shower, your loved one can use a safety grab bar and maintain his or her independence. Loss of independence can cause a number of negative emotions, and sometimes these can even lead to depression. Depression has negative effects on heart health, diabetes, and has been linked to a higher mortality from suicide and heart disease. If a simple thing like a safety grab bar can offer independence to your aging loved one, it’s an easy step you can take to help them.

Installing a safety grab bar is easy to do and can have a huge impact on your aging loved one’s health and well-being.