When standing from a sitting position in the bath you may find it helpful to hold one horizontal wall-fixed grab rail (placed above the bath) with one hand and use the outer rim of the bath with the other hand to push against. There needs to be a 50-60mm clearance between the wall and all handrails. A high contrast finish may be helpful if you have low vision - choose grab rails in a colour that contrasts with the wall it is to be installed on. Next consider your ability to grip onto a grab rail. Do you have reasonable hand strength? Do you ever have pain in your hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders which would prevent you from pulling up or pushing down on a grab rail? What is your overall balance and ability to stand like? An epoxy, paint or plastic finish provides a warmer feel to rails, is hard wearing and will reduce the effects of condensation. A choice of colour allows for a colour contrast with the wall for users with low vision or for co-ordination of bathroom accessories. the space you have. It’s no wonder they’re so popular. Choose from a wall-mounted robust rail, a freestanding rail set on castor wheels for easy

The rail should be mounted at a height that the user can comfortably reach whilst stood both from outside the bath and from in the bath.Cranked or offset rails are wall-fixed rails which have been designed to fit to frames and spaces to allow the user to step up to and through a doorway or space without releasing grip on the rail. A 600mm long horizontal rail 680mm from the floor beside, and extending in front, of the toilet pan for use when sitting down on the toilet. This rail can be horizontal or set at an angle of up to 15 degrees. Alternative suggested measurements are a minimum 500mm long rail, at a height of 600mm from the floor, with the rear fixing 400mm from the wall at the rear of the toilet.

sitting down or standing up from the toilet, or standing to manage your clothes when using a toilet This should be a flat, unknotted piece of wood, which is screwed into the vertical joining pieces of the partitions. The grab rails can then be attached to the board. The College of Occupational Therapists recommends a 144mm x 19mm board/pattress with its external corners well rounded and the board itself fixed to the wall at least every 900mm (COT 2006). A wide range of finished hand rails are available from DIY chains for you to choose from. A plain 50mm mop head cross section softwood rail may be used. A polished or chrome finish is attractive and hard wearing but can be quite slippery to hold, especially when hands are wet.The lower portion is usually set horizontally and acts as a forearm support. This enables the user's body weight to be distributed through his or her forearm which may be helpful for someone with painful hands or wrists.