While safety and infection control are important, they are not the only factors to consider when selecting flooring for elderly care and healthcare settings.

When working in senior living or healthcare facilities, designers should always keep in mind the impact their designs are likely to have on residents and patients struggling with the effects of aging or illness.

“Design ultimately impacts the attitudes, health and wellbeing of staff, residents, patients and visitors, so selecting high-quality materials that are high-performance and functional is an important consideration,” says Mark Andrews, managing director of The Andrews Group, a Bolon partner.

This also applies to flooring, which, according to Andrews, “plays a critical role in creating safe, healthy and functional senior living and healthcare facilities.”

There are several reasons for this. Given the mobility problems, balance issues, etc. that many of these people struggle with, the floor needs to be stable, firm and non-slip.

“Even in nursing homes and care facilities, a high level of cleanliness must be maintained to prevent the spread of infection and disease,” says Andrews. “To ensure a clean environment, floors should be easy to clean and disinfect. In areas where spills are common, floors should also be impermeable.”

In addition, according to Andrews, floors should always be comfortable underfoot and provide cushioning to reduce the risk of fatigue and discomfort, and should facilitate mobility for all people, including those who rely on a wheelchair or walker.

The acoustic properties of the floor covering are also important.

“Residential and care facilities can be noisy due to constant activity and movement. Sound-absorbing floors can help create a quieter and more peaceful environment for residents, patients, staff and visitors,” says Andrews.

In addition to these functional requirements, as has become better understood in recent years, the design and aesthetics of the flooring can also contribute to the overall atmosphere and ambience of the nursing home and healthcare facility.

“Floor coverings should be chosen to create a welcoming and calming environment for residents, patients, visitors and staff,” says Andrews.

“The floor palette must also consider the needs of each space and how colours affect emotions and mental health impacts. It can also be used as a wayfinding tool to mark areas and enable intuitive navigation.”

Floor coverings for people with dementia

Dementia and the needs of those affected are always an important aspect, especially in elderly care. However, the choice of flooring in such facilities often does not meet the requirements.

“Unfortunately, we are finding that more and more of our clients in dementia facilities are opting for vinyl flooring because it is easier to clean,” says Debbie De Fiddes of De Fiddes Design, a Perth-based practice specialising in aged care.

“While this is important, acoustics and safety are equally, if not more, important. Too much noise and poor acoustics in a building can have a detrimental effect on people with dementia by increasing stress, anxiety, restlessness and confusion, and can even lead to fatigue and falls.”

According to De Fiddes, patterns and design are particularly important to consider in this context.

“While we need to avoid overbearing, busy patterns, that doesn’t mean that flooring should be free of patterns or designs. We’re trying to create environments that look homely and feel warm and inviting, so patterns should be subtle with little color variation,” she says, adding that a combination of hard and soft surfaces is ultimately the best option for operations and occupant comfort.

With this in mind, suppliers such as Forbo Flooring are now also offering products specifically tailored to the needs of dementia sufferers. In fact, the company is currently in the process of designing a bespoke collection together with De Fiddes and her team.

The collection, called Flotex, is washable, waterproof and quick-drying, combining the look of carpet with the performance of vinyl, thus better meeting the needs of these residents without neglecting other important design aspects and their implementation in the facilities.

Forbo Flooring has undertaken its own research into this important issue and recommends that designers working in this field engage dementia design specialists recognised by the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) as a first step towards achieving effective results.

Practical solutions

According to Lily Vaughan, Head of Interior Design at Interface, providing fit-for-purpose flooring solutions in healthcare and aged care settings requires meeting aesthetic, functional and hygienic requirements.

“In the elderly care sector, we always strive to achieve a balance between beautiful design and functionality. Interface’s extensive offering not only allows us to achieve both, but also to create beautiful, bespoke homes for older people,” she says.

The company’s latest collection, consisting of Etched & Threaded carpet tiles and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) from Earthen Forms, is designed to convey a feeling of calm and comfort, contributing to the well-being of patients, residents and staff.

Etched and Threaded Carpet Tiles and Earthen Forms Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) / Interface

By weaving the warmth of textiles with the geometric flow of natural stone, Etched & Threaded and Earthen Forms break up the hustle and bustle to create relaxing spaces. The soft patterns and subtle neutral tones of these products help create a calm and soothing environment.

This is particularly beneficial in elderly care and healthcare settings, where reducing stress and promoting relaxation can greatly improve healing and quality of life.

Like all Interface products, Etched & Threaded and Earthen Forms are built to last. They are designed for durability and longevity, which is critical in high traffic areas typically found in healthcare and aged care facilities. This ensures that the flooring remains intact and aesthetically pleasing over time, meaning it does not need to be replaced as often.

Etched & Threaded and Earthen Forms represent sustainable thinking and respond to the increasing importance of environmentally friendly practices in healthcare and aged care facilities. This not only supports environmental goals, but also meets the growing demand for sustainable building materials.

Etched and threaded carpet tiles are made from 100% recycled solution dyed nylon and have a low carbon footprint between 5.37 and 7.24 kg CO2.₂/m², while Earthen Forms LVT is made from 39% recycled material.

Thompson Health Care Oran Park House

Thompson Health Care Oran Park House / GH Commercial

Located in the Macarthur region of south-west Sydney, Oran Park House is a recently opened aged care facility operated by Thompson Health.

Designed by TSD Studio, a Sydney-based interior design firm specialising in aged care, the facility offers resort-style accommodation as well as permanent and short-term placements, 24-hour care services, a café, private dining room, arts and crafts room, cinema, beauty salon and library.

When completing the project, the designers made sure to prioritize comfort, accessibility and living convenience. In general, they wanted to create a sophisticated and luxurious atmosphere while diverting attention from specific medical features.

In terms of flooring, Oran Park House uses carpet from GH Commercial, a provider with a solid track record in the independent living, assisted living and specialty care sectors.

All are individually adapted to their respective purpose and durability, safety and sustainability were the main focus during development. They can be found in the residents’ rooms and corridors, in the chapel, in the event and bar area and in the facility’s cinema.

The results speak for themselves. Visually calming and comfortable, each room meets the specific requirements of its location.

The carpeting in the residents’ rooms and hallways is deliberately neutral, with subtle patterns and colorful earth tones with blue speckles. In the chapel, a carpet of gently overlapping squares in muted tones creates a beautiful contrast to the vaulted ceiling and the huge windows.

In the event room, bar area and cinema, memories are then the order of the day, as the carpets with their irregular geometric shapes and bold borders invite residents to have fun and remember various past social events.

Macquarie University Hospital

Located on the university campus on Sydney’s north shore, Macquarie University Hospital is a 144-bed teaching facility combining clinical practice with research and teaching.

Following the recent expansion and renovation of the operating rooms and wards, the hospital now has its own orthopedic center. This new center, known as the Orthopedic Institute, provides high-quality health and wellness services to the population.

Designed by Angel Mahchut Architects, the Orthopaedic Institute features flooring from Gerflor, a manufacturer and supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products for floors and their surroundings.

Specifically, the products included are the homogeneous floor covering Mipolam and the Taralay Impression range from Gerflor.

Mipolam homogeneous flooring is an ideal choice. It is available in a wide range of suitable colours – in this case Greige, Light Greige, Quartz, Santorini and Matte Grey – and has antiviral and antibacterial properties, helping to prevent and control infections.

The Taralay Impression range – in the Cemento Capri, Cemento Genova and Infinity Greige variants – used in the corridors, hallways and treatment areas of the Orthopaedic Institute creates a modern and organic atmosphere, contributing to a sense of calm by introducing a biophilic element and creating the conditions for patient recovery and well-being.

It is recommended by the DSDC and features Protecsol 2, a patented surface treatment with antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is also recommended for elderly care facilities where the care of residents with dementia is important.

It represents a combination of aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency and is available with compact and acoustic backrest, providing excellent foot comfort for both staff and patients.

Like the various other flooring solutions mentioned above, when appropriately specified, it can help ensure that aged care and healthcare facilities are places where health, safety and wellbeing are given the priority they deserve.

Main image: Forbo Flooring / Forbo Flooring

SUPPLIERS

GH advertising

Forbo Flooring

Bolon

interface

Gerflor