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Access to Bathtub Grab Bars: Evidence of a Policy Gap*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Nancy Edwards ,
Nicholas Birkett ,
Rama Nair ,
Maureen Murphy ,
Ginette Roberge  and
Donna Lockett
Nancy Edwards*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa
Nicholas Birkett
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa
Rama Nair
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa
Maureen Murphy
Affiliation:
Family and Community Health, Ottawa Public Health Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa
Ginette Roberge
Affiliation:
Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa
Donna Lockett
Affiliation:
Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être addressées à : Dr. Nancy Edwards, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5. ([email protected])
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Abstract

This paper examines access to bathtub grab bars in privately and publicly owned apartment buildings and explores the profile of seniors who have access to bathtub grab bars. Results indicate that bathtub grab bars were significantly more prevalent in apartments that were publicly owned (91.3%) as compared to privately owned (37.8%) (p < 0.05). Results of a logistic regression for participants residing in non-universal-access buildings indicated that seniors were more likely to have grab bars in their bathtubs if they were older, were in poor health, had had a fall in the previous year, or used a mobility aid. Among those who did not have bathtub grab bars, 33 per cent reported fear of falling while bathing, 20 per cent reported difficulty bathing, and 23 per cent were found to have impaired balance. Findings are discussed in light of policy implications for universal access to grab bars, with apartment buildings being a logical place to start.

Résumé

Le présent article porte sur l'accès aux barres d'appui des baignoires dans les immeubles d'habitation de propriété privée et publique et examine minutieusement le profil des personnes âgées ayant accès à ces barres d'appui. Les résultats indiquent que ces barres étaient plus fréquentes dans les appartements de propriété publique (91,3%) comparativement aux appartements de propriété privée (37,8%) (p < 0,05). Les résultats d'une régression logistique des participants résidant dans des immeubles à accès non universel ont indiqué que davantage de personnes âgées avaient une barre d'appui dans leur baignoire si elles étaient plus âgées et en mauvaise santé, si elles étaient tombées au cours de l'année précédente, ou si elles utilisaient une aide à la mobilité. Chez les personnes qui n'avaient pas de barres d'appui dans leur baignoire, 33 pour cent craignaient de tomber lorsqu'elles prenaient leur bain, 20 pour cent avaient de la difficulté à prendre un bain, et 23 pour cent manquaient d'équilibre. Les résultats font l'objet de discussions quant à l'incidence sur les politiques générales en matière d'accès universel aux barres d'appui, les immeubles d'habitation étant l'endroit logique où commencer.

Keywords

agingseniorsfalls preventiongrab bars, policyuniversal accesssafe bathing practicesvieillissementpersonnes âgéesprévention des chutesbarres d'appuipolitiqueaccès universelsécurité dans la baignoire
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 2006 , pp. 295 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2006

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Footnotes

*

This project was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (now the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care). Dr. Edwards holds a Nursing Chair from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. Publication does not imply endorsement of these views by the participating partners and funders of the Community Health Research Unit.

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