Age UK Waltham Forest is offering to install free grab rails for elderly residents

By Emma Levine, from Age UK Waltham Forest

Connie with her new grab rail (credit: Emma Levine)

Like many older residents, Connie Borrowman finds it harder these days to get around, having developed arthritis in her legs that makes it difficult to move them.

The 79-year-old from Chingford noticed it most while getting in and out of the shower and had to hold onto the shower fitting itself to get in, despite knowing it “wasn’t very secure”.

As reported by the Echo in November, Age UK Waltham Forest is increasingly seeing elderly people discharged from hospital before vital safety measures like grab rails have been installed in their home.

Thankfully, we have stepped up to do our part to help and are offering to install up to three free grab rails for free for those aged over 60, whether in a bathroom or just outside their front door.

The charity has 200 grab rails – available on a first-come, first-serve basis – which will be installed by our in-house handyperson Errol.

Connie is loving the new addition to her shower and said: “Now, I can just reach out and step into the shower, I feel so much safer. The handyman did a great job – and so neat and tidy.”

Ladun Thomas, a physiotherapist who works for the borough’s Falls Prevention Service, said grab rails like this can have “huge benefits” for older residents.

She said: “It helps you transfer in and out of the bath or to sit and stand up if you have a stool and it gives you more confidence as you have something safe to hold on to.

“They enhance the quality of life you have in your home environment, and significantly reduce the number of falls.”

Falls account for hundreds of thousands of A&E admissions among those aged 65+ in England every year and it is estimated that unaddressed fall hazards in the home cost the NHS £435million annually.

While the service is free to residents over the age of 60, any donations to Age UK are always welcome and can be made on our website.

To apply for a grab rail contact 020 8558 5512 or email us on [email protected].

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