Nursing Home Flooring: Material & Installation Considerations

Falls are unfortunately all too common when it comes to nursing homes or any senior living environment. In fact, “falls are so common in nursing facilities that of the 1.6 million residents in U.S. nursing facilities, approximately half fall annually. About 1 in 3 of those who fall will fall two or more times in a year.” With statistics like these, it is important that these facilities implement strategies to prevent unnecessary accidents and reduce the risk of serious injury or even death. Starting from the ground up is a great place to begin. Here, we will walk you through the ins and outs of nursing home flooring with special characteristics and the best options and materials to consider. 

Nursing Home Flooring Characteristics

Flooring characteristics are often defined by what a particular space needs in order to make everyday life run a bit smoother. To achieve this goal, nursing homes and senior living environments should consider the following five flooring characteristics: 

• Slip Resistance 
• Avoid Area Rugs 
• Soft Under Foot 
• Easy to Maintain 
• Visually Inviting 

Slip Resistance

While nursing home environments can be hectic and extremely busy at times, choosing a flooring solution that is slip resistant is critical to facility success.  

Avoid Area Rugs

Although we love the look and feel that carpeted rugs provide, they can without a doubt be a trip hazard and lead to unwanted accidents. 

Soft Under Foot

Choosing a flooring option that is soft underfoot is important to nursing home facilities for two main reasons. First, it will provide the members, guests, and staff with protection against foot and back fatigue. Second, it will quiet noisy hallway traffic that will in turn promote better rest.  

Easy to Maintain

Having a flooring option that is easy to clean and maintain is a must for nursing homes. Food, liquid spills, and dirt should be easily wiped away and never stain the surface.  

Visually Inviting

Nursing homes should consider flooring options that visually invite guests into a soothing, warm environment like the one you would want to come home to at the end of a long day.  

Nursing Home Flooring Options and Material

By examining the characteristics of nursing home floors above, let’s now examine the options and material that go along with them.  

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is simply a flooring solution designed to protect which makes it an ideal solution for senior living environments. Rubber is extremely slip-resistant, even when wet. It is also soft underfoot and has shock-absorbing qualities that can help protect against harsh impacts if and when falls do occur. 

Cork Flooring

Completely renewable, cork flooring is one of the most environmentally friendly resources on the planet. Not only that, but it can also provide unparalleled comfort in the form of sound absorption, compressibility, and thermal insulation that fits perfectly into the wants and needs of nursing homes.  Like rubber, cork is soft underfoot and its shock-absorbing characteristics can protect against harsh falls. 

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl has vastly become one of the most popular flooring options amongst nursing homes today and it’s not hard to see why. Resistant to scuffing and staining, mold and mildew, and slips and falls, vinyl has all the capabilities to meet many, if not all, nursing home requirements. From luxury vinyl tiles to engineered vinyl planks, there are many options and styles to choose from if vinyl is on your facility’s radar.  

Epoxy Flooring Systems

Non-slip, extremely durable, and aesthetically pleasing, epoxy flooring systems can easily withstand the constant day and night use of nursing home floors. This flooring system is created by applying a thermosetting resin directly onto a moisture-treated concrete slab. The epoxy coating then prevents wear and tear due to abrasions, foot traffic, and chemical spills. Simply sweep and wipe away dirt, dust, and debris, and your floors will look brand new for years to come.  

A Buyer’s Guide to Nursing Home Flooring

No choice affects the success of your project, or your flooring installation costs more than the contractor you select. We’ve published a straightforward guide that shows you how to tell quality flooring contractors from the rest. You’ll learn ways to get maximum value from your flooring project and achieve long-term savings in the process. Fill out the form below to download a buyer’s guide to flooring contractors.