Caring for the Elderly: 4 Ideal Flooring Options for Nursing Homes

Are you trying to provide the best healthcare for the senior community? Well, you’re on the right track. If you don’t count hospitals, nursing homes provide the most detailed wellness programs and treatments a person can get. With all the advanced medical facilities available as well as a team of trained professionals, there’s very little chance of things going awry.

Nonetheless, when you’re taking care of the elderly, you need to take into consideration every little detail to make their stay as comfortable as possible. Many members of the senior community face walking difficulties and might require mobility aids to move around. Seeing as they can easily slip and fall at any given time, it’s not surprising at all that the type of flooring is one of your main concerns. Fortunately for you, your search ends right here as we’ve rounded up a list of the safest and best flooring for nursing homes to ensure you make the right decision.

What Is the Best Flooring for Nursing Homes?

The flooring used in nursing homes is somewhat different than the residential or commercial models on the market. To get a better idea of their characteristics, we’ll be giving you a short overview of each one.

Padded Vinyl

While vinyl, in general, is a multi-layered material, the one used in nursing homes has extra padding to ensure safety and comfort. Despite its softer build quality, padded vinyl is quite durable and long-lasting thanks to the organised build of interior elements. The reinforced surface layer provides the necessary warmth and softness to lessen the impact of a potential fall. In this way, if some of the residents do collapse on the floor, they won’t sustain any major injuries, which is exactly what you’re looking for.

On the outside, vinyl closely resembles hardwood but it’s sold at a more affordable price. In other words, you get the same luxury wooden appearance without putting a strain on your budget.

Another great thing about padded vinyl is that it’s inherently spill and scratch resistant. This means that you won’t damage it if you knock over a glass of water or any other liquid and continuous use of wheelchairs and other mobility devices won’t leave permanent marks. This is what makes it one of the ideal choices for aged care flooring.

Padded Linoleum

This is an all-natural version of padded vinyl. You might want to consider getting linoleum if you want to minimise emissions of toxic off-gassing. It’s highly sound-absorbent and stain resistant which makes it very low maintenance. Moreover, its antibacterial and antistatic properties contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.

Cork

The cushion-like structure of cork is what makes it naturally soft and shock-absorbent. In other words, if any of your patients falls, it’s highly unlikely that they will sustain any serious injuries. In addition, it’s resistant to bacteria and all sorts of other microorganisms which can be extremely beneficial for those with allergies.

Unfortunately, cork isn’t as durable as other flooring options which is why it should be waxed regularly to retain its original form. When cared for properly, cork has a relatively long lifespan so you won’t have to look for an alternative for at least 40 years.

Rubber

These days, rubber is in high demand for medical institutions, especially those dealing with older residents. Its slip resistance and impact absorption is what makes it one of the top choices for best flooring for nursing homes. In addition, its natural padded finish provides the necessary padding and insulation for a safe step.

The main downside is that it emits a faint rubber scent after a while. Some people are indifferent to it while other might not be so appreciative of the smell.

Why Is Nursing Home Flooring Important?

To wrap up this discussion, we’ll be rounding up the major reasons why you need to pay close attention to the type of flooring you install in your nursing home.

Prevents Injuries

It’s common knowledge nowadays that the senior community is no stranger to injuries sustained while falling down. The numbers are growing rapidly and they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

If you really want to make a difference when it comes to your patients’ safety, you need to put some thought into installing padded flooring to reduce the risk of head injuries, broken bones and all sorts of other accidents. Once you do this, they’ll feel encouraged to move around freely and increase their level of daily activity.

Easy to Clean and Maintain

Sure, installing a particular type of nursing home flooring is easy, but keeping it in tip-top shape is the difficult part, especially when you’re dealing with a large number of patients. Ideally, the floor should be resistant to abrasion and everyday wear and tear. After all, it’s easier to maintain a smooth surface that doesn’t have any substantial indentations or scratches.

It’s a well-known fact that cleaning vinyl is pretty easy since all you have to do is give it the occasional swipe with a mop. Linoleum and rubber also require minimal maintenance whereas cork might be a little tougher to handle due to the fact that it needs to be waxed every now and then. In any case, consider how often you’ll be cleaning your floors and how much effort you’re willing to put into the whole process so that you can pick the most appropriate one.