With the ever-growing number of elderly people in need of constant medical attention, nursing homes offer the most extensive long-term care a person can get, apart from hospitals. This isn’t really surprising since nursing homes have a whole range of medical resources and assisted living facilities at their disposal. This means that the well-trained staff offers help with custodial as well as skilled care. Regardless of what time of day or night it is, there’s always nurses and doctors making their rounds and the maintenance staff keeping all the equipment up and running.
All of this sounds familiar to you, doesn’t it? After all, you’re planning on opening your own nursing home to provide the best medical care for the weak and elderly. While you have most of the basics figured out, including medical staff and all the necessary facilities, there’s one thing left for you to wrap up – finding comfortable and safe nursing home flooring. This isn’t an easy feat since you need to take quite a few factors into consideration. Did you know that falling down is one of the main causes of injuries among older adults? Well, now you’re aware of how vital it is to find the right flooring for your nursing home. So it’s only reasonable that we have a look at all the flooring solutions available.
What Flooring Is Used in Nursing Homes?
There are a handful of aged care flooring options out there and each one has something special to offer.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is one of the most popular and sought-after flooring materials, for a good reason. Many people prefer vinyl since it’s apadded, multi-layer nursing home flooring solution that is quite durable and resilient. Modern-day vinyl flooring is much thicker than its predecessors due to the structured build of its components. In addition, it’s both water and scratch resistant which means it won’t get damaged by spills or the everyday wear and tear. It’s also quite easy to disinfect, following the latest pandemic protocols. This is what makes vinyl flooring suitable for common areas, patient rooms and bathrooms alike. Even if you do end up spilling something, all you have to do is mop it up and it’ll be as good as new.
The latest designs of vinyl flooring closely resemble hardwood, both in terms of appearance and characteristics but at a fraction of the cost. As a result, you get the same high-quality flooring with a much more reasonable and affordable price tag.
Moreover, the extra padded layers adds a bit more warmth and keeps the floor soft enough to prevent any injuries by absorbing some of the impact. In this way, if residents happen to slip and fall at some point, there won’t be any serious consequences. This is quite convenient and practical, since the safety and comfort of your patients is your main priority.
Another benefit of vinyl flooring is its versatility and ease of installation. Whether it’s sheet, plank or tile flooring, you can simply customise the shape and design to fit in the designated space. Once you’ve done that, installation is a breeze. Each piece has a removable plastic peel at the back which reveals the adhesive that is used to secure the vinyl into place.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber is a naturally stain and water-resistant material which makes it one of the best flooring solutions for a nursing home. It effectively increases the safety of your residents with its shock-absorbing, non-slip surface which provides sufficient cushioning and insulation. Plus, there’s a whole bunch of design patterns and styles for you to choose from.
One downside is that you might notice a subtle scent of rubber once it’s installed. It shouldn’t bother most people but it might be a nuisance to some.
Cork Flooring
Cork is a naturally soft, sponge-like material which can greatly reduce the impact upon falling. Unfortunately, it’s not inherently water-resistant but it can be waxed to prevent long-standing water damage and corrosion. While it’s not as long-lasting as other flooring options, it’s a senior-friendly material that’s quite practical and low maintenance.
Key Considerations When Choosing Nursing Home Flooring
Before you decide on which type of flooring you want to get, you need to consider a few factors that are deal-breakers in the process.
Ease of Use and Mobility
It’s advisable to have a general idea about how each room will be used in order to assess possible safety hazards. To get a better understanding of what type of flooring is suitable for each space, you can talk to your medical and maintenance staff to inquire about any past incidents. Since you’re working with patients whose mobility is already limited, you need to do everything in your power to ensure that all areas are easily accessible.
Slip-Resistance and Cushioning
Nursing home floors should be slip-resistant because that’s the only way you can minimise the risk of injury. This is why you should install materials with a high friction coefficient as the safest option. If your patients do eventually fall down due to vertigo or any other underlying health condition, the padded cushioning will suppress the fall and prevent a more serious injury.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Since you’ll be dealing with numerous patients in a large area, you’ll probably have to mop the floors multiple times a day to keep it clean. For this reason, it’s a good idea to get flooring that requires minimal maintenance so that you save up on time and effort.
