Abstract:

This occasional paper seeks to address some of the relevant knowledge required by therapists in prescribing grabrails to improve safety and functional ability of older ambulant persons in sit to stand from a toilet. It examines the basic biomechanical, anatomical and anthropometric principles underlying an understanding of how grabrail prescription impacts on normal sit-to-stand activities, particularly the activity of toileting for ambulant older persons. The significance of these issues is accentuated by confusion among therapists in the context of high caseloads, limited time, relatively low funding, and laws and regulations which are not framed to apply to individual homes or to include the community service sector.