What Are Rear Wall Grab Bars?
Toilet with grab bar on the rear wall and grab bars on the side wall.
You may look at the grab bar configuration to the right and wonder, “do I need to do all of that in my bathroom at home?”
Okay, maybe you can see the purpose of the grab bars on the wall next to the toilet. But do you really need the grab bar above the toilet?
That instinctively feels a little excessive!
Today, we’re talking about the grab bar above the toilet, AKA the rear wall grab bar! Keep reading the blog below or watch the video to see if you need to put one in your bathroom at home.
What Are Rear Wall Grab Bars?
Rear wall grab bars are grab bars that are installed horizontally above the toilet. One end is installed close to the corner where the walls meet and the other end extends past the toilet.
Rear wall grab bars help people safely get on and off of the toilet by themselves or with the assistance of a caregiver. The point of rear wall grab bars is to support the general public in maintaining their dignity and independence while using the toilet.
Public bathrooms usually have rear wall grab bars to adhere to ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. If you use a bathroom in public, it’s (supposed to be) set up to help the majority of people despite age or ability.
The great news is you DO NOT have to use ADA standards in your private residence (AKA your home). You can install grab bars in the best position for your needs, not the general public’s needs.
If you don’t want a rear wall grab bar in your bathroom, that’s okay! You do not have to install it to make your bathroom safer.
How do you use a rear wall grab bar?
In a perfect world, someone would use the rear wall grab bar something like this:
Maria demonstrating a lateral transfer to and from a toilet and a chair.
Of course, this type of transfer will look different from person to person because we all have different abilities, body types, and needs. In practice, I've usually seen people who are tall and larger-bodied using rear wall grab bars while transferring on and off of the toilet.
Various types of equipment also impact how people use rear wall grab bars during toilet transfers. Most people don’t use dining room chairs to get on the toilet! Typically, people use wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, or tub transfer benches with rear wall grab bars.
Who benefits from rear wall grab bars?
Wheelchair users benefit from rear wall grab bars because they usually transfer similarly to how I demonstrated in the video above. The rear wall grab bar provides additional surface area to push up from as opposed to holding onto it to maintain balance.
It’s WAY better to push off the rear wall grab bar instead of the toilet tank or bathroom vanity! That’s because it’s a stable surface embedded in wood studs AND it’s closer to your body. When you’re pushing off of a grab bar that’s close to your body, you’re less likely to accidentally injure yourself.
Rear wall grab bars are not necessary for everyone. In fact, it's really rare for me to recommend a rear wall grab bar in the home for people other than wheelchair users.
And even then, not all wheelchair users use rear wall grab bars.
In a study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2016, researchers wrote that rear wall grab bars might provide an illusion of safety1.
The researchers asked 21 wheelchair users to rate their toilet transfers in terms of their confidence, difficulty, and how challenging it's become for them to get on and off the toilet as they age.
Wheelchair users with grab bars on the rear and the side walls rated their toilet transfers as more challenging compared to wheelchair users who only had a grab bar on the side wall.
The researchers guessed that people assumed they needed to use the rear wall grab bar just because it was there. They guessed that when people wanted to use it, they would stretch far over the toilet and experience a fear of falling.
Rear wall grab bars can lead to confusion on how to best use them. Often people don't know which bar to hold on to or where to put their hands. This confusion can lead to stretching far across the toilet to hold on to the grab bar, twisting your back, or overreaching
All of this stretching, twisting and overreaching can lead to an unintentional injury. And we really don't want that for you!
Who can help me decide if i need a rear wall grab bar?
If you feel any fear or anxiety about getting on and off the toilet, you need to head on over to your primary care provider and ask for a referral for an occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists are really good at helping you figure out how to safely get on and off the toilet to take care of yourself. They collaborate with you to determine if a rear wall grab bar would be a good fit for your needs.
Speaking on behalf of my profession, we know how confusing it can be when you have one too many grab bars. Occupational therapists assist you in carefully deciding how many grab bars you actually need to use in the bathroom. One thoughtfully placed grab bar next to the toilet is really all that most people need to stay safe in the bathroom.
Should I hold onto a rear wall grab bar if I walk to the toilet?
Speaking of falls, people who walk to the toilet shouldn't rely on the rear wall grab bar to hold while using the toilet.
If you have male anatomy and stand to pee in front of the toilet, holding on to the grab bar means you're going to bend forward, thus changing your center of gravity and increasing the likelihood of falls. It’s important to have a grab bar placed in the best position for you to encourage standing upright with your hips over your knees.
That’ll keep you from falling!
Installing a grab bar that’s higher up on the wall will help you stand upright. If you have questions on where to best place the grab bar or what type of grab bar to use, ask your primary care provider for a referral for an occupational therapist.
Did we answer your questions about rear wall grab bars?
Let’s do a quick recap:
Rear wall grab bars are not necessary to have in your bathroom.
They're usually recommended for wheelchair users, but not all wheelchair users use them.
If you walk to the toilet, do not use the rear wall, grab bars to hold on to.
You only need one thoughtfully placed grab bar next to your toilet to safely get on and off.
Do you have a rear wall grab bar in your bathroom at home? Tell us your experience about it in the comments below!
Resource
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. (2016, January 1). Analysis Of The Effect Of A Rear Wall Grab Bar Configuration On The Fall Risk Associated With Toilet Transfers In Older Adults With Mobility Impairment. https://www.resna.org/sites/default/files/conference/2016/jea/sanath.html
(Pssssttttt . . . did you know we have an awesome online course for people who have a hard time wiping after using the toilet? It’s an awkward topic that you can learn how to solve in the comfort and privacy of your own home! Learn more about the course HERE!)
