The most important thing is what the bar is screwed into. A grab bar must be anchored into studs, solid blocking or rated hollow-wall anchors, never just tile or drywall. Suction-cup bars aren't safe for leaning your weight on, and we'd steer you away from them.
Placement comes next. Shower grab bars and toilet bars do different jobs. Most people need a bar beside the toilet, a vertical bar at the tub or shower entry, and a horizontal or angled bar along the bathing wall. In older Markham homes, such as heritage houses in Markham Village or older back-splits in Thornhill, the walls may be plaster or have studs in odd places, so an experienced installer is worth it. In newer homes in Cornell or Cathedraltown, builders rarely added blocking, so ask how the installer will find solid backing behind tile. Condo owners should check whether the building wants notice before drilling into shared walls.
Prioritise someone who has installed bars for seniors before and who asks how your parent actually moves. Have them stand where your parent stands and reach where your parent reaches. Ask for a textured grip, a finish that matches the bathroom so it doesn't feel clinical, and a written guarantee on the anchoring. In multigenerational homes, bars set at a sensible height work for everyone who uses the room. Keep the invoice, since installed bars may count toward the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit, and veterans can ask Veterans Affairs Canada about support.
Our recommendation is professional installation of two or three bars at once, planned around your parent's routine. The trade-off is a modest labour charge versus doing it yourself, but a bar that pulls loose is worse than none. Local installers are limited, so families also compare those in Richmond Hill and Scarborough.