I work in home health and I cringe every time I see one of those suction cup grab bars in a shower area. I will not instruct patients on transfers using the suction cup grab bars. I feel they are risky. I have seen them slide along the wall; I have pulled on them and some have come off the wall. I tell my patients that I only recommend professionally installed grab bars and if they are not willing to follow my recommendations, then I recommend sponge bathing and document as such. Susan
--- On Tue, 7/14/09, lucy payne <lucy_payn...@live.co.uk> wrote: From: lucy payne <lucy_payn...@live.co.uk> Subject: Re: [OTlist] Why OT's Should NOT Focus on the UE To: otlist@otnow.com Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 3:18 AM Re: suction grab rails When I worked in the community here in England we did not recommend the suction cup grab rails as there were too many risks such as they could be re-positioned in such a way as to cause more of a hinderance than a help and that they will not take as much pressure/pull/push as a permanent grab rail. Regards Lucy > To: OTlist@OTnow.com > Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:20:57 -0400 > From: cmnahrw...@aol.com > Subject: Re: [OTlist] Why OT's Should NOT Focus on the UE > > In this case I would practice both a walk in shower and bathtub shower > combo transfers. I am sure he will have either or. When the apartment > is finalized, schedule a home evaluation and make sure your > recommendations are well known and documented. Sounds like he will > need a heavy duty shower chair or a heavy duty transfer tub bench, > professionally installed grab bars, hand held shower, non slip > stickers, long handled bath sponge. > > That reminds me of a question that I had this morning. Has anyone had > any luck with suction cup grab bars. I work in acute rehab and > patients often want to order them for home, but I do not get to follow > up with them after their DC to determine if they actually work. I > think this may be a good question for the home heatlh OTs. I read in > consumer reports that the person should not put significant weight > through them, and to only use them for balance. I am wondering if I > should recommend them at all > > _________________________________________________________________ MSN straight to your mobile - news, entertainment, videos and more. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/147991039/direct/01/ -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
