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Mother is moving to a new facility. It is an upgrade from her last facility. The agent mentioned that her new apartment has hardwood floors. I am concerned should she become unstable and have a fall. Would she be safer if we carpeted the apartment?

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Dear daughterlu,

I think they normally prefer hardwood because its easier if they are using a walker or wheelchair. Carpet would be harder to push through. But I understand your concern about falls as well. It is a tough decision. I don't know if they are any grab bars or railings around the apartment that would help with balance.
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I have "true" hardwood floors in my home. They are slippery when clean and polished, even with just a satin finish. Everyone knows to be careful, and nobody has even fallen (without trying, I have 13 grandkids who love to slide across the floor!) In a NH, the cleanliness of "hardwood" is usually the 1st factor--carpet is so hard to keep clean. Messes happen and the smells linger, people will catch a toe on the carpet--mother has carpet in 2 of her rooms and she has fallen myriad times on the carpet, never on the "hardwood". It's not slippery at all.
I know what my hardwood floors are "worth" and I cannot see ANY NH putting out that kind of money on a floor that is going to need replacing every 5 years.
Carpet does "seem" warmer, but IMHO, is a greater fall risk. NO SCATTER rugs, either, as much as you might want to dress up the place, those things are definite fall risks.
I imagine the "hardwood floors" are laminate and those are not slippery, even when wet.
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I've been trying to get all rugs out of my parent's house for over a year. Man, my mom is resistant on it. I suppose it'll take a hip fracture, before she lets them go. I do make sure they are thin and as flat to the floor as possible. But, still.......
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Just for info I have been advised that sealed cork is the best flooring since it is waterproof and softer than wood. As for a carpet....hmm Mum has a carpet - I have to shampoo it at least 3 times A WEEK because she is incontinent and dribbles (or full on pours) when she stands from the commode. She tends to throw a lot of food on the floor and even more tea gets spilled. Occasionally she will soil as she stands but that is rare as yet. Whatever you have it has to be deep cleanable because ultimately you will need it to be. You can get some very very spongy vinyl now though which also might be worth considering.
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I read a study about how seniors who live in carpeted homes suffer less fractures than those with other floors. (This was about 3 years ago.) If I can find the link, I'll PM it to you. However, having carpet in a LTC facility may not be practical. I mean, just the sanitary aspect of it. With all the accidents that happen.....there is no way getting the floors clean would be possible with carpet. Do you have the option of putting carpet in her apt area? It's a lot to consider.
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From an elders point of view (recent changes in health) I find hardwood floors especially stairs very dangerous. I have also had a bad fall on carpet so who can tell. I tend to walk around at home barefoot because I feel personally it gives me better traction even though I am advised to always wear well fitting shoes. My walker with front wheels seems to be easy to control but the normal home really does not have room to use one indoors. Another option is to use the socks they give you in the hospital with the little sticky blobs on the sole.
A hard floor is definitely more hygienic and easier to keep clean but definitely deadly when wet. Railings certainly help a lot especially on both sides of the stairs.
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Usually floors underneath carpeting are hard like concrete. At least wood is softer than concrete. My MIL used to get her walker caught on her area rugs. She fell in her bathroom - tile - and gave herself many a hematoma. She fell in her kitchen - also tile - and gave herself many a black eye. Yet when she fell in her living room on the wood floor she didn't do as much damage. Wall-to-wall if it's on top of wooden floors would offer the most protection but again, if it's atop concrete it's a hard landing.
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Good idea Jude I had not thought of cork
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Cork is an excellent idea. I've seen it sold in large interlocking squares.
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Just remember people that cork is not as resilient as other flooring although if you get tiles you can just replace a tile
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