Do you have an elderly living with you at home? Or are you putting up home care for the older people in your neighbourhood? One of the things that concern you when taking care of your senior loved ones is the condition of the floors. Is it safe for them to stroll and walk by themselves? Today’s post answers, “what is the safest flooring for seniors?”
If you have a concrete floor, you need to panic if one spot has cracks or holes. Gramps and grandma may trip if they happen to step on that spot. Or the tip of their cane may get caught on the dents on the floors. Choosing the floors provide a safe space for your homes with the elders.
What is the Best Flooring For Aging Adults?
Most homes and commercial spaces got concrete floors. Before you apply the following flooring materials over the concrete surface:
- Be sure that every step is seamless.
- Check for concrete cracks. If you see one, call the flooring repair service right away.
- Resurface the floors with concrete overlays to maintain safe floors at every turn.
Five flooring types offer safe steps for the elderly. When looking for a kind of flooring for aging loved ones, you also need to ask yourself the following:
- What is the most slip-resistant flooring?
- What floor option is best for walking?
- What is easy to install and maintain?
- What kind of floor suits best for those who have back pains?
1. Cork Flooring
If you want something that feels good for the feet, cork flooring is the first that comes to mind! Cork is a material made from shaving of wood barks. It provides perfect cushioning that helps lessen the impact in the event of a fall.
It creates a warm feel for a room. This type of flooring is also suitable for absorbing noises. Seniors at home can benefit from this if they have cork floors for the bedroom to help them relax.
They need this most especially for getting a peaceful and quiet sleep or nap.
2. Carpeted Concrete Flooring
If you live in a semi-humid area, there will be some days when the cold gets stuck on the floors. You can put carpets on the floor to help regulate the cold and warm temperatures.
Homes for eldercare often install carpets in the flooring. It helps the elder walk with ease. Aside from cork, carpeted concrete flooring offers a cushion for the feet.
Here are common materials you can use to provide carpeting to avoid slips and falls.
It creates a warm feel for a room. This type of flooring is also suitable for absorbing noises. Seniors at home can benefit from this if they have cork floors for the bedroom to help them relax. They need this most especially for getting a peaceful and quiet sleep or nap.
- Area rugs. Rugs help lessen surfaces prone to mist and water exposure. Small pieces of area rugs will quickly remove liquid spills to reduce surfaces that are slippery when wet.
- Pile carpet. These are attachable pieces of carpet material to increase cushioning in the event of a fall. You can attach pile carpets at the foot of furniture below the bed of the seniors in your home.
3. Rubber Flooring
For excellent non-slip flooring options, rubber mats are the way to go. Rubber flooring is also practical and easy to install.
You can add pieces of mats to the bathroom door. Or place them on a hard surface where tripping hazards may frequent.
Make use of these in your bathroom flooring to also add another form of cushioning. Many seniors get tired quickly when standing up for minutes while taking a bath.
If you put rubber mats, it helps lessen hard and unforgiving tiled surfaces.
4. Vinyl Planks & Tiles
For excellent non-slip flooring options, rubber mats are the way to go. Rubber flooring is also practical and easy to install.
You can add pieces of mats to the bathroom door. Or place them on a hard surface where tripping hazards may frequent.
Make use of these in your bathroom flooring to also add another form of cushioning. Many seniors get tired quickly when standing up for minutes while taking a bath.
If you put rubber mats, it helps lessen hard and unforgiving tiled surfaces.
5. Carpeted Stairs
Do not forget the stairs. Increase safety by reducing the slippery edges along the stairs. Add a running carpet to cover the steps for going up and down.
The carpet also helps reduce the impacts when the foot lands on each step. Older people can feel slight pain on their soles when they take steps going down. Make sure that the carpet runner adheres firmly in place. If it slides and dangles, you must nail it down each step.
6. Epoxy Floors for Outdoors
Did you know that you can also use epoxy floor coating outdoors? Epoxy adds slip-resistance to the pool decks and patios. Before you, the older adults, stay and relax in your outdoor living room, be sure that no cracks or damages exist on the floors. Applying an epoxy coating also helps make the floors easy to clean and maintain.
The carpet also helps reduce the impacts when the foot lands on each step. Older people can feel slight pain on their soles when they take steps going down. Make sure that the carpet runner adheres firmly in place. If it slides and dangles, you must nail it down each step.
Conclusion
If you see one, it’s time to get a local Expert flooring company in Los Angeles to resurface the concrete patio and more. Want to read more? Check our next blog on pouring new concrete over old concrete.
