BUILDING PRODUCTS: GRABRAILS AND HANDRAILS


Handrails and grabrails are key to ensuring a safe environment for people with dementia


A helping hand


fixtures and fittings enhance a space visually – helping people who may be sight impaired to make out specific objects or areas – but they can also help them to stay safe and well while navigating their surroundings, which if in hospital or new to a care facility, can be terribly confusing. Products often taken for granted, but which can greatly


improve a person with dementia’s understanding and use of their environment, are grabrails and handrails. The Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling


University states in its design guidance that: “Handrails and grabrails can be helpful throughout a building, but are particularly important near external and internal stairs and in bathrooms or toilets.” And it advises that, where these are positioned at stairs, they


should extend beyond the first and last steps before coming to a clearly-defined end.


TRUE COLOURS Colour is also a vital consideration when specifying both handrails or grabrails. “Having these in a colour which contrasts with the


A


rchitects and project managers are becoming increasingly aware of how even the smallest details of the built environment can have a significant impact on


the lives of people with dementia. Not only can specially-developed building products and


background can make them easier for people to locate and to use,” says the guidance. “Some people with sight loss and dementia may


also find tactile markers useful as a way to navigate round their homes. For example, plastic bumps stuck to the underside of handrails to signal key points


> mhdf magazine 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23