Grab Bars for Bathroom: FSA Eligibility

What are grab bars for a bathroom?

Grab bars for a bathroom are a device for improving safety and accessibility in a bathroom setting. They are bolted to the wall securely enough to support the body weight of an adult human being. They may be mounted in a variety of fashions in order to enhance accessibility and safety for any type of physical disability, limitation or mobility difficulty.

Grab bars are most commonly seen installed around the toilets of handicapped restroom stalls. They are usually configured for accessibility by all limitations, including wheelchair confined individuals and the elderly.

Grab bars for a bathroom are Over-the-Counter (OTC) medical products, and they are eligible for reimbursement with a consumer-directed healthcare account.

Grab bars for a bathroom may also be used in a shower for the same purpose. Grab bars for a bathroom can be installed vertically to assist with standing balance. They can also be installed horizontally for assistance with rising and sitting, as well as to provide stability when preventing a fall or recovering from a fall.

There are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for installing grab bars in public spaces, and these guidelines may be of use in deciding where and how to install grab bars for a bathroom at home. The best placement of the grab bars for a bathroom will depend on the type of mobility limitations and/or disability. Grab bars for a bathroom might also be installed for the aid of a caretaker in assisting another person to use a restroom facility, shower, etc.