[OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars
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 wrote: From: lucy payne 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
Re: [OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars
Very good to know. Thanks Susan. Do you give them any information about "professionally installed grab bars", like a list of these professionals? Or do you refer them to the yellow pages? Hard to know who is trustworthy. -Original Message- From: Sue To: otlist@otnow.com; OTlist@OTnow.com Sent: Tue, Jul 14, 2009 7:00 am Subject: [OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars 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 wrote: From: lucy payne 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=2 0a 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/di rect/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 -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
Re: [OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars
I provide a list of trusted professionals who have worked with us for over 10 years; but I always tell them that they are free to use whomever they want to use. If they say they "know someone," I then write down the important considerations, such as installing into studs of wall, type of bars I prefer for their particular situation, etc., and I will mark in pencil the approximate height and location of where I want the bar(s) to go. Susan --- On Tue, 7/14/09, cmnahrw...@aol.com wrote: From: cmnahrw...@aol.com Subject: Re: [OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars To: OTlist@OTnow.com Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 6:36 PM Very good to know. Thanks Susan. Do you give them any information about "professionally installed grab bars", like a list of these professionals? Or do you refer them to the yellow pages? Hard to know who is trustworthy. -Original Message- From: Sue To: otlist@otnow.com; OTlist@OTnow.com Sent: Tue, Jul 14, 2009 7:00 am Subject: [OTlist] Suction-cupped grab bars 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 wrote: From: lucy payne 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=2 0a 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/di rect/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 -- 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
