Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Home Flooring

When considering nursing home flooring, safety and accessibility are the main concerns. It is reasonable to assume that in a nursing home, not every patient will be able to walk on his/her own. Different devices, such as wheelchairs, scooters, or walking canes, may be in use. Many elderly patients have gait problems because of arthritis, osteoporosis, or a number of other conditions. No matter what flooring is selected, safety of the nursing home residents should be the top priority. The flooring chosen should be able to mitigate slip hazards, visual impairment, and transitioning between different flooring materials when walking. When an elderly person falls, it can be debilitating, and he/she may not be able to recover from it. Once one fall as occurred, the probability of another fall increases.

Nursing home flooring needs to possess several qualities that can be difficult to find in one material. How do you find flooring solutions that are durable, low maintenance, easy to clean, comfortable, safe, and attractive? See below to find tips for deciding on the best flooring for nursing homes.

Interview the staff who work there to try to get a feel for the resident’s specific needs as they understand them.

Talk with the nurses and other staff about past falls that residents have experienced and what has caused them and/or any other incidents related to any flooring issues.
How many residents have difficulty walking and how many use an ambulatory device?
Is the nursing home floor prone to spills from liquids?
What is the schedule for floor cleaning?
What is your budget?
On a scale of 1-10, how important is functionality? Aesthetics?
Are there food carts regularly being driven on the floors?

FLOORING FOR NURSING HOMES

What is the best flooring for nursing homes? A variety of surfaces could be good choices for nursing home flooring. Let’s explore a few of them below. They include rubber, padded vinyl, padded linoleum, cork, and carpet.

Rubber

Rubber flooring is a popular option for nursing homes because it is durable, and it absorbs noises well. It is also a good shock absorber. It has a naturally pleasing finish that only gets better over time, and it comes in a variety of colors. It is a safe material, easy to maintain, and is stain resistant. Some people may notice a faint rubber smell, but it doesn’t bother most people. It is a great material that can help prevent serious falls because the flooring spreads and dissipates impacts more effectively than some padded alternatives.

Pros

Rubber flooring is widely used in commercial businesses, like gyms, exercise rooms, and garages, where safety is an important feature. It is both slip resistant and can absorb a significant amount of shock.
Rubber flooring is very resistant to water, dust, wear from furniture, and the need to move heavy equipment. Even when deformed by heavy furniture, it will retain its shape once the pressure has been removed.
Rubber flooring can be installed over concrete, and adds safety and comfort to outdoor areas, alleys, and walkways.

Cons

Rubber flooring is more expensive than most other floorings.
It is also available in only a few styles and patterns.
Rubber is not necessarily warm or inviting, like carpet would be.

Padded Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is perhaps one of the best flooring materials for a nursing home. Available in both planks and tiles, vinyl is available in many designs, colors, and patterns. It is also aesthetically pleasing and can mimic hardwood, concrete, and marble. Vinyl is easy on the feet, comfortable to walk on, and can easily accommodate all types of ambulatory devices.

Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain. It is resistant to water and liquids and, therefore, should last well over time as the surface is easily cleaned. It can be utilized in many different types of spaces, including bathrooms. It doesn’t stain, so you can keep it looking fresh over a long period. It can be disinfected easily. The layer of padding underneath adds warmth and it can help keep the floor soft enough to help absorb impacts from any falls. This can help reduce injury risk for residents.

Pros

Vinyl is durable, able to withstand significant foot traffic, and is low maintenance.
Vinyl is also water resistant and can be installed in the bathroom and kitchen areas.
Vinyl is affordable and much cheaper than hardwood.
Vinyl flooring is smooth and makes it easy for people to walk on.
Vinyl flooring, unlike tiles, doesn’t feel cold.

Cons

Unless you choose LVF (luxury vinyl flooring), previous versions of vinyl can look less than pleasing and can feel like plastic. It is frequently installed in the laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, and basement where comfort and aesthetics are not necessarily a high priority. The latest luxury vinyl flooring is a much better product

Padded Linoleum

Unlike the first generation of linoleum products, the latest linoleum is aesthetically pleasing and has many great features that make it popular in nursing homes. Linoleum behaves very similarly to vinyl, but it’s natural. You don’t have to worry about the floor being made of synthetic material subject to toxic off-gassing. It’s not quite as stain resistant as padded vinyl, but it’s still easy to clean, maintain, and disinfect. When the subflooring is padded, linoleum is easy to walk on and comfortable on the feet. Linoleum provides a smooth surface; hence, it is easier for seniors to walk on without fear of a fall.

Pros

Linoleum is easy to clean and maintain. Unlike carpet, it does not retain dirt, dust, pollen, or other air contaminants.
Linoleum is both stain- and water-resistant and, thus, can be installed in the bathrooms and kitchen. Another plus about linoleum is that it can be installed directly over wood underlayment or subfloor, which saves time and money during installation.
Linoleum has a smooth surface and allows for wheelchairs to move over it with ease.

Cons

Linoleum is not as durable as vinyl and its lifespan is about 12-18 years.
It can feel cold if there is no underpadding.
When wet it may feel slippery. However, the latest linoleum also comes with an anti-slip surface coating.

Cork

Cork is a popular nursing home flooring choice. Like carpet, cork is comfortable to walk on, is shock absorbent, and can help cushion any fall. When well maintained, it can easily last 3-4 decades.

More importantly, cork is a natural substance, soft, and an eco-friendly material. It can be recycled when it comes time for a replacement. In a nursing home, where sound muffling and comfort are necessary, cork is highly recommended.

Pros

Cork is a natural material and it’s soft. Thus, it can help cushion falls. It can be waxed to help prevent water damage or staining.
Cork is comfortable to walk on and easy to clean.
It is hard enough for roller traffic, like wheelchairs, and, unlike carpet can do, it does not easily snag feet or ambulatory devices.
As long as a cork floor is properly maintained, it can last many decades.
Cork is also relatively easy to clean and care for.

Cons

Cork is relatively soft and is prone to damage by heavy equipment, furniture legs, pointy shoes, and any sharp objects. Cork is also mildly resistant to moisture and, therefore, spills need to be wiped away immediately. Any standing water can seep through the seams and damage the subfloor.
It’s not as durable as some of the other options here, but once waxed, it’s easy to clean and disinfect.

Carpet

Carpet can be a good choice when it comes to nursing home flooring in many areas. The latest nylon carpets are durable, strong, and can withstand heavy foot and roller traffic. Carpets are also available in many styles, shapes, sizes, and designs. More importantly, carpet can help cushion falls and muffle sounds. Carpets are relatively easy to install and more affordable than many other flooring materials.

Pros

Carpet has good padding and can help cushion falls and minimize or prevent injury.
Carpets can make a place warm, inviting, and are comfortable on the feet.
Unlike other flooring materials, carpet doesn’t retain cold or heat.
Carpets muffle sound and absorb noise, which can be quite helpful in a nursing home setting.

Cons

One of the biggest negatives about carpets is that they readily collect dust and dirt, and even vacuuming will not remove everything. This can be especially problematic to patients with severe breathing problems or allergies.
Carpets are only meant for dry areas and use should be avoided in bathroom, kitchen, and basement areas. Carpets do not tolerate spills of liquids well.
Carpets often get stained from liquid and food spills. These stains often require professional cleaning and shampooing.
Carpets can make it difficult for wheelchairs to ambulate over. As well, carpets with long fibers can present a trip hazard.
The durability of carpets is generally between 12-15 years, which is much shorter than other flooring materials

CONCLUSION

What is the best flooring for nursing homes? There is no one flooring material that is suitable for every area in a nursing home. Every flooring material has its pros and cons. With safety in mind, luxury vinyl and rubber flooring may rank at the top of the list.

Talk to a knowledgeable representative from East Coast Flooring & Interiors to get an idea of the services each of these floors will lend. East Coast Flooring & Interiors has previous nursing home flooring installation experience and that’s important because it is a unique environment that needs special expertise. Call them today at 1-954-626-8053.