Senior living communities offer a number of great benefits for seniors. From excellent amenities to spacious living quarters to lots of socialization opportunities, there are many reasons seniors consider this option. Safety in these communities is an absolute priority, and often that safety begins with the right senior living community flooring choice.
What Is the Best Flooring For a Senior Living Community?
The best flooring in a senior living community setting is one that offers added safety features, and many flooring choices build in a number of different safety features just through the nature of the material. Here are a few things to consider.
- Slip-Resistance: The flooring material you select should have a non-slip surface. Today many floorings come with a non-slip surface layer that allows seniors to move around safely without worrying about falling. Vinyl flooring is one great choice.
- Padding: You should also consider the amount of padding the floor offers. Should someone fall, you want the flooring material to cushion the fall and minimize injury. Carpeting is ideal in situations where it makes sense, but if you need something a bit different, cork is an excellent option.
- Easy Movement: You also want flooring that is easy to walk on or that provides a good space for wheelchairs. Often this may mean choosing the right mix of hard and soft floors.
- Simple Maintenance: Many seniors within a senior living community maintain their own floors within their living space, so you want to select something that provides simple maintenance like a quick sweep and mop. If you are a senior then you need to consider how long it will take to clean and maintain the flooring. Preferably you want a natural-looking surface that requires minimal maintenance.
- Aesthetics: Don’t overlook aesthetic appeal. You want your senior living community to look absolutely amazing, and there are many flooring choices that meet all of these requirements and look great.
Don’t Forget to Factor in the Location
Be sure to prioritize the flooring depending on the location. In areas of high foot traffic like the entrance or the lobby, you want flooring that is slip-resistant, allows ease of movement, and requires minimal maintenance. In bathroom or kitchen areas, though, you want flooring that is anti-skid and easy to clean. In bedrooms, you want flooring that has great sound absorption and is warm.
Four Great Flooring Options
With so many different flooring choices today, it can be hard to select the right option to meet your needs. Here are four great choices to consider.
- Rubber flooring is highly recommended for senior facilities and homes. Rubber flooring significantly lowers the risk of a fall because it has anti-slip features. It’s heavy, and even when it’s wet, it will not become slippery. Rubber also has a great cushioning effect and will minimize the impact of a fall. Rubber is available in a number of designs and colors and can render a modern look. Plus, rubber flooring is easy to clean and maintain. Rubber flooring can be installed in any room of the home including the kitchen, basement, and lobby.
- Cork flooring is catching on fast because it’s comfortable, soft, and provides good foot traction. Because cork has a semi-rigid sponge-like structure, it is easy to walk on and markedly lowers the impact of a fall. The latest cork flooring also comes with a protective surface layer that offers stain resistance. More importantly, cork flooring is easy to clean and maintain. It works best in spaces like the bedroom or living room.
- Vinyl flooring is another great option in a senior living community. The flooring is easy to maintain, has good aesthetics, and is waterproof. Because vinyl planks or tiles are smooth, this makes it easy for seniors to walk or move while using their ambulatory devices on them. The one downside to vinyl is that it has no padding, and a fall on it can be traumatic. You may want to work with an installation contractor to add extra padding to the flooring. Outside of these minor negatives, luxury vinyl is attractive and easy to clean and maintain. However, if you decide to go with luxury vinyl ensure that it comes with an extra surface coating that is water, stain, and scratch resistant.
- Carpets will never go out of style and will always remain popular for senior residences. Carpets are great at cushioning a fall and limiting the trauma caused by a fall. Plus carpets keep the home warm, are easy on the feet, and are non-slip.
Before deciding on the right flooring choice to meet the needs of the senior living community with which you work, consult the professionals at East Coast Flooring. We can’t wait to help meet the needs of your community members.
Contact East Coast Flooring & Interiors today for help with your flooring selection.
