What Is Considered Safe Flooring for Living in Place?

By Louie Delaware, Founder of the Living in Place Institute, LLC

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. How many older people fall in the U.S.? Who has not fallen sometime in their life? One in four seniors falls every year – almost 30 million! Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall and every 19 minutes an older adult dies because of a fall. In 2013 the costs of falls were $31 billion and is expected to grow to over $67 billion by 2020. Sixty percent of falls occur at home and thirty percent who fall are hospitalized. After a fall, many are not able to go home. Let’s hear some advice from experts about how flooring makes a difference for all of us.

Ideas in Safe Flooring Design

Sabrena McCarley, a Licensed Occupational Therapist from California, advises designers to remove throw rugs and recommend alternate, safe flooring choices.

“Throw rugs are a slip-and-trip hazard, especially for people who do not fully pick up their feet,” she added. “We see patients who have fallen at home and sustained fall-related injuries all the time at our rehab centers.”

She suggests that designers specify recessed area rugs. McCarley also recommends using contrasting colors to identify steps. She says,

“One of our basic survival instincts involves depth perception which keeps us from stepping over a cliff. This same principle applies in the home. Keeping floor color contrast to a minimum may help to prevent a fall. Use high contrast floor colors when there is a step, being sure the contrasting colors are visible from both directions.”

Barbara Barton, a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer from Denver tells us,

“A bright reflection of light from the floor into our eyes can blind us and lead to a fall. Only use satin finishes for all flooring, or let the experts coat or etch the floor to minimize that dangerous reflection. Besides the benefit of safety, these processes allow the true beauty of the floor show!"

“For people who are prone to falling, recommend padded carpeting, cork or rubber. All are soft, good at absorbing sound and good insulators. Soft floors may be difficult for a wheelchair to roll easily. In these cases, you should recommend a hard surface, or at least very low pile carpet."

“Another popular kitchen floor choice is luxury vinyl. This flooring choice has a bit of cushioning and reduces sound transmission. There are many other wonderful flooring options that can help reduce the possibility of falling at home. I also specify that all flooring should have a textured surface. Be aware that all flooring options can be slippery – especially with pooled water or spilled food.”

McCarley also recommends,

“For areas where feet, shoes or wheelchairs need to dry off, such as at an entry door, a good option is a recessed area where a low-nap carpeting or rug can absorb the water. Be sure to install underfloor heating to help keep the flooring dry and prevent mold."

“Some medical conditions cause an individual to have an increased sensitivity to cool flooring. When an individual can’t properly sense their feet, stepping on a cool surface causes their nervous system to go into overdrive, and they have difficulty with the sudden temperature change. To minimize this problem, occupational therapists often suggest heated floors.”

McCarley continues,

“Busy patterns can be visually confusing and disorienting to many, especially those with cognitive or vision challenges and may cause a fall. I recommend working closely with a qualified kitchen and bath designer to choose a minimal pattern that still works with the overall design, but minimizes the risk of a fall.”

Both Barton and McCarley also talked about one of the biggest hazards in the bathroom – the base of the bathtub or step into shower. Even though many tubs have what is intended to be built-in anti-slip features, they may not prevent a fall. Instead, recommends McCarley,

“Use a full adhesive bath mat that will not move and provides some cushioning.”

They both agree that one critical must-have in all bathrooms are no-step showers. They are now comparable in cost to standard showers and with some systems, much faster to install than old fashion methods. Barton closes with her personal tip, “I recommend to every client that a no-step shower be the only choice. One of my favorites is a liner floor drain that is hidden under the wall!”

There are many other flooring options that help prevent your clients from falling at home. Include in your team both a professional kitchen and bath designer and a flooring specialist to make the best recommendations. If a client has medical issues or is older, always include a medical professional in your team to help you select options that are best to help all your clients to safely, Live In Place.