Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Carpet softens the impact

Census numbers continue to show that the numbers of mature adults in the United States is soaring. More studies are being done that show the quality of life and well-being of mature adults can be greatly enhanced by adapting the environment to meet their needs.

As our nation's seniors make housing decisions for their retirement years, there are some factors to consider that create a comfortable, safe environment, whether living at home or selecting a senior living facility. Including carpet in the design of housing for this group provides benefits in mobility, vision, hearing and safety. Let's take a look at factors to consider.

Mobility

Safety is a top consideration for seniors who seek a stable, non-slick walking surface that protects them from accidents. Carpet allows easy ambulation, which is important because of muscular changes that affect gait. Because some older people tend to shuffle as they walk, low pile carpet and proper installation can prevent falls. A study of 225 incidents in a long-term health care facility showed that of the group who fell on carpeted areas, only 17 percent sustained injuries, while in the group who fell on vinyl, 46 percent sustained injuries. Low pile carpet installed on a firm cushion or glued to the floor provides both ease of walking and ease of wheelchair travel.

Approximately 30 percent of persons over age 65 who are independent and living on their own fall each year, and about 15 percent of those falls result in physical injury serious enough to warrant medical attention. The beauty of carpet is that it provides a slip-resistant surface and does not produce glare from surrounding light sources. In some states, having carpet in a facility may reduce insurance premiums.

Additionally, the comfort underfoot of carpet can reduce leg fatigue and can warm the feet and ankles. Because of its pile construction, which acts as an efficient thermal insulator, the temperature over carpet is substantially warmer than that over cold, hard surfaces. Seniors, whose feet and ankles are more susceptible to temperature changes, will stay warmer on carpet because of its natural insulating properties.

Vision

Changes in depth perception, color perception and vision clarity in older adults should be considered when selecting the flooring. Carpet patterns that are too bold or too large provide little contrast between adjoining surfaces, making it difficult for those who have problems with depth perception such as those with cataracts to gauge which item is in the foreground and which is in the background. For this reason, floral or boldly patterned carpet should be avoided on stairs.

The color palette in a facility's living area should be as homelike as possible to soften the impact of moving into a retirement facility.

"People want to age in place, to be independent as long as possible, and traditional carpet reminds people of home," says Libby Laguta of L2 Design, Inc. in Atlanta, who specializes in interior design for health care and senior living facilities.

An individual unit often features solid color cut pile carpet like a home. In other parts of the facility, products that have medium contrast without being too bold are preferred. Both the aging parents and their adult children often make the selection of a senior living facility, so it must appeal to both sets of eyes while being inviting, functional and safe, according to Ann Hurley, marketing development manager for Solutia and past board member of the Color Marketing Group.

Selecting patterns and colors depends on the use of each area. Studies have shown that color has a psychological effect on moods, so warm neutrals are a good choice, but it's important to remember that color contrast is important to prevent accidents. According to some color theorists, warm and cool colors have an influence on activity. The cool colors tend to promote relaxation, and the warm colors tend to stimulate activity. So a variety of colors, depending on the use of the area, is important.

"People appreciate texture and visual changes in their environment, so patterned carpet is appropriate in certain areas in a facility. But the contrast in the pattern must be distinguishable that means it must be readable in black and white and shades of gray," says Laguta. She recommends that where patterned carpet is used, it should be an organized pattern with small pattern repeats and medium contrast, avoiding large areas of dark and light. She notes that if a designer or facility manager puts on a pair of yellow sunglasses, which will mimic changes in the eye's lens that occurs with aging, and is able to see the pattern of carpet swatches through them, that carpet will be successful in a senior living facility.

Light sources and the degree and evenness of illumination also affect the vision and safety of any living space. Starting at age 40, our vision is gradually impaired as the pupil of the eye decreases in size, creating a need for more light.

According to Jain Malkin in her book, "Hospital Interior Architecture," a 70-year-old individual requires three times as much light to see with the same clarity as someone 20 years old. She also notes that glare is one of the biggest problems associated with aging eyes, because it may make boundaries or edges difficult to discern. Reflective glare off tabletop or hard surface flooring can present problems, so her recommendation to reduce the glare is using carpet and fabric upholstery as opposed to vinyl.

Hearing

Fewer than 12 percent of those over 65 have normal hearing, and 30 to 50 percent have a hearing loss that significantly interferes with communication and relationships with others, according to one study. Because hearing is crucial to a sense of well-being, it is important that the environment be conducive to good hearing. Older adults are often unable to hear high-pitched sounds such as a doorbell or an alarm, and often have great difficulty separating speech from background noise. For example, the presence of background music or reverberating sound from hard-surface floors may interfere with hearing. Carpet can help absorb airborne sound, reduce surface noise and block sound transmission from floor to floor. Elizabeth M. Hughes, Ph.D., R.N. noted that a recent study of adults in senior living facilities showed that participants thought noise caused the greatest problem for them. In designing this type facility, she recommends selecting features to help absorb noise, including an acoustical ceiling, carpet in most of the areas, upholstered chairs and fabric vertical blinds.

For more information about carpet selection and its benefits in senior living, contact the Carpet and Rug Institute at (800) 882-8846 or visit its Web site at www.carpet-rug.com.

Back to Prime Timers Home Page | Back to the top of the page