According to Market Insights/Torcivia, significant growth in the healthcare flooring products sector is expected to grow to 355 million square feet before the year is over. And with this growth the healthcare community has higher expectations for the flooring solutions products it chooses. They want slip-resistant, natural-looking, soft and easy-to-clean materials that are comfortable underfoot.
Assisted living flooring needs to stand up to heavy, around-the-clock foot traffic but also medical equipment, carts, beds and more. It’s expected to keep staff, patients and visitors as safe as possible from slips and cushion them from injury when falls do happen. Ideally, assisted living flooring solutions will increase underfoot comfort, easing the repetitive stresses and strains of walking and standing. Flooring is expected to be durable, low maintenance and aid in infection prevention, too.
Research shows that healthcare environmental design plays a significant role in wellness and healing. With greater influence from the hospitality industry rather than the medical model, the materials found in assisted living communities have been changing. Thus, assisted living flooring solutions does not mean one flooring product type throughout the facility.
Many flooring products are needed to address all the types of communities and spaces involved. Previously, few suitable products, such as solution-dyed carpet or other moisture-barrier fabrics were available, but now there is a range of flooring options. The challenge in assisted living flooring solutions is selecting materials with a hospitality aesthetic that is functional, safe and durable since carts and wheelchairs can do damage over time.
Manufacturers continue to develop flooring solutions that reflect the latest trends and growing customer demands. The result is an array of products, including rubber, vinyl sheet flooring, polyolefin, linoleum and terrazzo.
Comfort and sound absorption are additional factors that must be considered for assisted living flooring solutions. “Hospitals are looking for softer, more cushioned flooring for occupational safety and health reasons. Hospitals are trying to find flooring that is more ergonomic and cushions people’s feet and legs from the hardness of the concrete slabs that are generally underneath the flooring surface,” Robin Guenther, FAIA, a principal at Perkins+Will told Health Facilities Management.
Here is a look at trending assisted living flooring solutions:
Rubber is growing exponentially in the assisted healthcare sector. Soft and naturally slip resistant, rubber is also naturally resistant to fire. When treated with a proper water soluble wax, a rubber floor can become nearly impervious to stains and water damage – that is why you will often see it used in outdoor environments. This makes it an easy to maintain assisted living flooring solution for seniors who may have limited mobility.
Carpet is a very cushiony material that can be comfortable underfoot, while also cushion falls. Additionally, it is quite warm underfoot, even in the winter, and its thick body can act as a sort of insulation on a room, helping the space to retain heat more efficiently.
Cork is another material that is soft both underfoot and under a body if the patient trips and falls. Like carpet, the thick material is also able to help insulate a room against both heat loss and outside noise. Another benefit of cork flooring is that it naturally provides traction underfoot. That means that people will be less likely to slip, trip or fall when walking.
Linoleum is made of organic materials and is purportedly non-allergenic, anti-static and anti-microbial, so dust and harmful microorganisms are inherently repelled from it. Padding can be placed between the linoleum and the subfloor to create a soft surface.
Vinyl is one of the easiest flooring materials to care for. It is nearly impervious to stains and water damage, and maintenance is a matter of sweeping it clean on a regular basis. This makes it an ideal, hassle-free assisted living flooring solution. As with other resilient flooring materials, it can also be padded in order to give the floor a soft, yielding feel.
