Care homes require a complex gamut of flooring solutions. The right choice of flooring is fundamental to creating a relaxed home-from-home environment that is also safe, clean and infection-controlled. Marrying these expectations is a balancing act which requires careful consideration. Using our commercial flooring expertise, this blog will guide you through the key spaces in a care home, highlighting the specific flooring requirements of each new space.
Entrances and Exits
The entrance to a care home should always be welcoming and safe rather than a trip hazard. Slips and trips are more likely to occur in doorways, particularly in wet weather. With vulnerable residents coming in and out of the home, good quality entrance matting is essential. This matting will ensure no slippery mud or dirt is taken into the building, lowering the slip-risk once inside. The removable matting is also easy to clean, allowing for greater infection control at the entrance, something which has become even more pertinent in a post-pandemic world. Entrance matting also tends to be one of the most cost-effective options, as well as being the most functional choice.
Corridors and High Traffic Zones
Moving through the entrance and into the busy corridors of the care home, these high traffic areas should be utilising flooring which is durable, hygienic and non-slip. In our opinion, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) are the perfect fit for these areas; it has all the aforementioned qualities and is available in an enormous range of styles, colours and patterns, meaning it can suit any aesthetic and also create a homely atmosphere, which is essential in a care home. Moreover, its ‘click in’ installation method means that damaged areas can be fixed by replacing a tile rather than replacing the entire floor, saving time and money as well as reducing disruption to residents. The wood effect models from Balterio are a brilliant option for a modern care environment, as it has the appearance of a sleek wooden floor, without the gaps or splinters! These floors also have a 10 year guarantee for commercial spaces, leaving you with a long term flooring solution. Most importantly, LVT is easy to clean and is compatible with most cleaning solutions, making it ideal for infection-controlled environments.
Shared Living Spaces
Living spaces need to be comfortable and soft, but they still require the same safety precautions as other areas. Carpet may have been discounted in the past due to being ‘difficult to clean’ or ‘hanging onto dust’, but nowadays we know that most carpets aid the clean environment by capturing allergens in their fibres and preventing them from recirculating in the air. This is especially important in a care home where residents might have breathing difficulties or be prone to respiratory infections.
When choosing a carpet for a care home, it’s also critical to consider how the colouration might be picked up by dementia sufferers, since research shows that dementia patients can be confused by complex patterns and respond best to matte, warm colours. As such, the warm tones of the Gradus Carezone Range would be perfect for these leisure spaces.
Bathrooms and Toilets
In these facilities, a non-slip and washable flooring is absolutely essential. With residents often needing care when carrying out basic hygiene tasks, bathrooms should have flooring that can be easily manoeuvred by personal carers, wheelchairs and zimmer frames. The designer should also bear in mind that the floor shouldn’t be shiny as sparkles can trigger bouts of confusion for dementia sufferers. Altro offers a brilliant range of matte, bauhaus safety flooring, proving that safe, sensitive flooring doesn’t have to be boring!
Staff Areas
If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that a safe and homely care environment is as important for the carers as it is for the residents. Leading on from this, it’s extremely important that carers have a designated area within the care home to avoid unwanted cross-contamination. This is where zoning comes into play, which is a brilliant way to get creative with flooring. Using different shades of LVT or coloured carpet tiles, the floor can be used as a tool to clearly indicate to vulnerable residents where the staff areas are. It also brings a new colour scheme into the home, and an opportunity for some more colourful design decisions; Harvey Maria has an exciting design-led range of LVT tiles that are safe and durable, as well as adding a homely touch.
Let us care for your floors
It’s clear that there’s a lot to consider when planning care home flooring, however, it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. At Donnelly Watson, we can provide you with an array of flooring and carpet solutions that will cover every area of your care home. To find out more about our commercial flooring offering, get in touch with the team today.