Suitable flooring to reduce the risk of tripping or slipping
This is sponsored content for Carpet Court.
With some assistance, many of our senior citizens are choosing to stay in their own homes as long as possible. One of the leading causes of the elderly requiring hospitalisation or nursing care is falling at home, so it makes sense to install flooring which minimises the chance of slipping or tripping.
The least appealing flooring for the elderly is tiles, which are potentially one of the most slippery when wet and the hardest surface to land on in the event of a fall.
High gloss porcelain tiles can be very slippery, so if tiles are necessary in kitchens, bathrooms or laundries opt for a ceramic tile with a textured matt finish. You can also treat your existing tiled floors with anti-slip products available from hardware stores and flooring specialists.
Floating floors such as engineered timber, laminate, hybrid and luxury vinyl can be a good choice as long as you check the slip ratings awarded under the Australian Standards classification system.
The top wear layer of each flooring product consists of several protective coatings, which can have varying degrees of slipperiness. So, if hard flooring is definitely appealing to you, check with the retailer or manufacturer about the slip ratings of the different products before you buy.
Rugs work well on hard flooring surfaces to add warmth and softness. To prevent tripping, rugs should have a smooth, low-pile profile, so shaggy rugs are definitely out!
Rugs can be fixed to the floor with special rug-gripping products to prevent movement and to curb edges which may be inclined to curl up and cause a trip hazard.
Carpet Court display a wide variety of flooring types for you to compare including timber, laminate, vinyl, hybrid, carpet and a few select stores also stock floor tiles.
As the largest flooring retailer in the country, Carpet Court's friendly, helpful staff are knowledgeable and experienced, so they are able to help you find the safest non-slip flooring products to suit your home.
Of all the flooring options, carpet is a popular choice because of its insulating properties, softness and luxurious visual appeal.
Carpet takes a little more effort and energy to clean than a hard floor surface, but in homes with less foot traffic not subject to the hustle and bustle of active family living, they require less maintenance.
Today's modern and traditional carpets have many great features and are manufactured to be highly resistant to soiling, staining, fading and can even have low-allergenic properties ideal for asthma sufferers or those with respiratory issues.
In homes where mobility aids are used, carpet can restrict the rollability of the wheels. The secret is to choose carpet which has a tight, low-profile cut pile in a twist or plush style to allow wheels to roll easily and to minimise tripping.
A looped pile, or carpets with a high-cut profile, offer more resistance and are more likely to inhibit the wheels or cause you to trip and fall compared to a carpet with a smooth, low profile.
If there are any stairs in the home, carpet should definitely be a low-cut pile and be fixed firmly to the floor beneath. Also consider the profile of the underlay and choose a low-density underlay without too much sponginess.
Carpet Court's luxurious carpets such as Talisa Springs manufactured by Victoria Carpets, Woolridge made by Feltex and Parklife by Cavalier Bremworth are great options for warm, soft flooring which minimise slipping and tripping.
This is sponsored content for Carpet Court.
