Everything we recommend
Start with the checklist. Then each section lists our picks from the full guides, with the reason for each.
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The starter checklist
If your parent is living at home and you are not sure where to begin, this is the order we would buy in.
- Grab bars at the tub and toilet
The bathroom is where most falls at home happen, and a screwed-in bar is the cheapest fix. - Motion night lights from bed to bathroom
Night-time trips to the toilet in the dark are a common cause of falls. Plug-in lights that switch on with movement fix that. - A shower chair or transfer bench
Lets them wash sitting down, and a bench removes the step over the tub wall. - A medical alert system
If they live alone, a fall without a way to call for help is the outcome to prevent. Fall detection calls even if they cannot press the button. - A rollator, if they are unsteady walking
A walker with a seat lets them go farther and rest when tired. Have it fitted, and ask the doctor, because Medicare may pay.
Safety & alerts
Medical alert systems
Out and about? Choose a mobile system with GPS and fall detection. Mostly at home? A home base station is cheaper and simpler. See the comparison.
Bathroom safety
Grab bars
- Our pick: Moen Home Care 24-inch Grab Bar. Rated to 500 lb, with Moen's SecureMount option for spots without a stud. Sold at most plumbing suppliers. View price
- For wet or weak hands: Vive Textured Grab Bar 24-inch. A knurled surface that is easier to hold with soapy hands, with wall anchors in the box. View price
Shower chairs and transfer benches
- Our pick: Drive Shower Chair with Back and Removable Padded Arms. Back and padded arms to push up from, a 16 to 21 inch seat height, and no tools to put together. View price
- When the tub wall is the problem: Drive Transfer Tub Bench. Sit down outside the tub and slide across, so they never have to lift a leg over the edge while standing. View price
Raised toilet seats
The Drive 2-in-1 Locking Raised Toilet Seat for most parents: 5 inches of lift, a 300 lb limit, and a lock and arms that work without tools. Measure first. See the comparison.
Mobility & stairs
Rollators and walkers
- Our pick: Drive Nitro Euro-Style Rollator. 10-inch front wheels that handle sidewalks, a seat and backrest, and an 18 lb frame that folds side to side. View price
- For tall parents: Drive Nitro Rollator, Tall. Handles that reach 41 inches; Drive recommends it for users 6 feet and up. View price
- For shorter or heavier users: Drive Durable 4-Wheel Rollator. Handles as low as 30 inches and a 350 lb weight limit. View price
Stairlifts
Bruno for most straight staircases, Stannah for curved or unusual stairs, Acorn if you want the maker to install and service it. First make sure your parent can get on and off safely. See the comparison.
Bedroom & kitchen
Bed rails
The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail for most standard beds, set up with the CPSC's checklist. A rail only helps if there's no gap a parent can slide into. See the comparison.