Where should grab bars go in a bathroom?

At minimum: one beside the toilet (on the wall they use to push up), one on the shower wall at about shoulder height, and one at the tub entry or shower door. If budget allows, add a second bar in the shower at waist height for stability while washing.

Do grab bars need to go into studs?

Yes — a grab bar needs to anchor into wall studs or use a mounting plate rated for the weight. The suction-cup bars sold at drug stores are not safe for weight-bearing. A stud finder costs $15 and takes the guesswork out of it.

Does Medicare cover bathroom safety equipment?

Medicare Part B covers some durable medical equipment like shower chairs and raised toilet seats if your parent's doctor writes a prescription. Grab bars and non-slip mats are generally not covered, but they're inexpensive enough to buy out of pocket.

What's the difference between a shower chair and a transfer bench?

A shower chair sits entirely inside the tub or shower. A transfer bench straddles the tub wall so your parent can sit down outside the tub and slide over — much safer for anyone who has trouble stepping over the tub edge. Transfer benches run $40–$80.

Bathroom Safety for Aging Parents: What to Install This Weekend

Start Here — The Bathroom Is Where Falls Happen

The bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house for aging parents. Wet floors, hard surfaces, awkward movements getting on and off the toilet or in and out of the tub. If you’re only going to tackle one room this month, make it this one.

The good news: most bathroom safety upgrades cost under $50 each, and you can handle the big ones yourself in a single afternoon.

Grab Bars: The Single Best Thing You Can Add

Bars in the shower and beside the toilet make the biggest difference. Other families say this is the one change they wish they’d made sooner.

Where to put them:

Beside the toilet — on the wall your parent uses to push themselves up. A 16–18 inch horizontal bar at about their armrest height. ($15–$40)
In the shower — one vertical bar near the entrance for stepping in/out, one horizontal bar at shoulder height for balance while standing. ($15–$40 each)
At the tub entry — if they’re still using a tub, a bar on the wall right where they step over the edge. ($15–$35)

Important: The suction-cup grab bars you see at CVS are not safe for weight-bearing. You need bars that screw into wall studs. A stud finder is $15 at any hardware store and takes 30 seconds to use.

Non-Slip Protection

Bath mat with suction cups inside the tub or shower floor. ($10–$25)
Non-slip bath rug outside the tub for wet feet stepping out. Look for one with a rubber backing. ($15–$30)
Adhesive non-slip strips if your parent doesn’t like mats — they stick directly to the tub floor. ($8–$15)

Shower Chairs and Transfer Benches

If your parent is unsteady standing in the shower, a shower chair ($25–$60) lets them sit. Adjustable-height models with a backrest are worth the extra $10–$15.

If stepping over the tub wall is the hard part, a transfer bench ($40–$80) is better — it bridges the tub wall so they sit down on the outside and slide across. No leg-over-the-edge moment at all.

Raised Toilet Seats

Getting up from a low toilet is where a lot of bathroom falls start. A raised toilet seat adds 2–5 inches of height and costs $25–$60. Models with armrests ($40–$80) give even more support. They clamp onto the existing toilet — no plumbing needed.

Handheld Showerheads

A handheld showerhead ($25–$60) lets your parent shower while seated and rinse without twisting around. Most screw onto the existing shower arm in five minutes with no tools.

This Weekend: Your One-Afternoon Bathroom Safety Kit

Here’s what you can realistically install yourself in 2–3 hours:

Two grab bars — one beside toilet, one in shower ($30–$80)
Non-slip mat for inside the tub ($10–$25)
Handheld showerhead ($25–$60)
Raised toilet seat if needed ($25–$60)

Total: $90–$225. You’ll need a drill, a stud finder, and basic screws (usually included with the bars).

If your parent resists the changes, other families have found it helps to frame it as “I’d feel better knowing these are here” rather than “you need this because you’re falling.”

StayHomeWell provides recommendations based on research and other families’ experiences. We are not medical professionals. Prices reflect national averages as of early 2026.