You might be considering getting handrails for any number of reasons, age being probably the most common one. Staying in their own homes for as long as possible is a priority for the majority of older people, allowing them to enjoy the comfort of familiar surroundings and happy memories, but recent figures indicate that over 220,000 people aged 65+ are admitted to hospital annually following a fall (Public Health Outcomes Framework 2017-18).
But age isn’t the only reason you may need a little more support to actively enjoy your home. Health issues may be a factor, or perhaps you simply have outside space with steps or steep slopes that would benefit from the addition of a rail or balustrade to keep users both big and small safe.
Whatever your reason for considering getting handrails for your home, they are great way to increase your security and confidence and enable you to enjoy your home independently, as well as giving you and your loved ones greater peace of mind.
At The Handrail People we understand that making these changes can be a daunting prospect. Our friendly advisors can visit your home and talk you through the best options for you, not only from a practicality point of view, but also working with you to create something that ‘fits’ with your home and personality.
A few things to think about when considering getting handrails or grab bars:
What solution is best for me?
A handrail provides constant, steady support over a distance, for instance alongside flights of steps
or steep drives and pathways. You may find it useful to add a handrail to longer flights of outside
steps, or sloping areas such as driveways and paths.
A balustrade is a handrail that also incorporates several vertical posts (or balusters) beneath that
prevent falls from height – particularly useful for longer flights of steps and/or those with with a
drop on one or both sides. They can also be used to make raised terraces and patios safer.
Balustrades can be made in mild steel and glass, or in wrought iron in either simple or more
complex, decorative patterns.
A grab rail is a smaller device, used as an aid to steady yourself, provide support when moving from
sitting to standing (and vice versa) and to have in reach ‘just in case’. Grab rails are designed to bear
greater weights than handrails. You may want a grab rail if you have just one or two deep steps into your front or back door, or in the bathroom to help with getting in and out of the bath/shower and on and off the toilet.
Permissions
If you live in a rented or leasehold property or wish to install handrails in an area with shared access,
you may need to seek permission from your Landlord or other relevant person/agency before work
commences.
Funding
You can contact your local council and request a free home assessment. An occupational therapist
will visit and establish what you need help with:
You can find more details on the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/
The Home Improvement Agency (HIA) may be able to advise you of the availability of financial help
in your area for the installation of safety features:
https://www.findmyhia.org.uk/
If you are registered disabled, you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant:
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants
Design
Wrought Iron
Now comes the fun bit! Our talented, friendly team of fabricators can help you design a handrail or
balustrade that enhances your home or garden as well as your safety.
Tubular with coloured coating
From traditional wrought iron designs to contemporary tubular rails or brushed stainless steel options, we can work with you to create something that blends in or stands out as much or as little as you want it to with a variety of designs and coating choices in a range of colours.
Stainless Steel
We are well equipped to answer all your questions, thanks to our nineteen years’ experience in the sector, and can advise on some of the considerations that might be less obvious.
Once your rail is ready we’ll contact you to arrange a convenient time and date for installation, our
friendly team can advise you on how long the installation will take depending on the size and
complexity of the job.
With your installation completed, our fitters will clean up after themselves and advise you of
anything you need to know about using and caring for your rail, for instance, how long before you
can safely use it depending on how it has been fixed.
Should you wish to fit your own handrail or use a preferred tradesman, we also offer a supply only
option.
If you have any queries during or after the process, we’re only a phone call or email away!