Assisted living as a sector covers a broad spectrum of needs but by definition, the accommodation needs be both a home for the people who live there and also be a safe place of work for those providing support. Flooring choices contribute to getting that balance right, says Altro.
There are many considerations when specifying for assisted living housing projects, all of which play a part in finding that balance between independent living and support, comfort and safety, looking to create spaces that have positive impact on physical and mental well-being.
Key to getting this right is choosing the right product for the right place, and thankfully when it comes to flooring, there are lots of great options to choose from that deliver a homely or stylish feel without compromising on performance, safety or hygiene.
In bathroom areas, slip-resistance is the primary concern, along with hygiene of course. There are slip risks from common contaminants such as shampoo and conditioner, as well as simply water. If wet rooms or level access showers are installed, slip-resistant flooring becomes absolutely essential. In these areas, chose a specialist safety floor solution developed for combined wet and dry, shoe and barefoot areas, such as Altro Aquarius or Altro Pisces, with lots of colour choices available, including DSDC dementia design accredited options.
Safety flooring
Look for safety flooring that delivers slip-resistance for the lifetime of the floor. Modern safety floors are easy to keep clean, and when combined with wall cladding for splashbacks and shower areas, help avoid the hygiene headaches caused by tiles and grout.
Safety flooring is a must in kitchen areas too where slip-risks come from spills of liquids and oils, as well as dry contaminants like flour. There are many options to choose from here, including, for example, Altro Illustra, a class-leading safety floor available in three distinct pattern groups with visual textures to bring depth to your designs: natural stones, modern textiles and muted minerals.
These designs offer a harmonious blend of style and functionality with nature-inspired textures and softness to help create and enhance feeling of well-being within spaces, whilst also delivering superior slip-resistance with Altro’s ‘One in a Million’ slip risk for life guarantee. Wood-look safety floors are particularly popular in assisted living kitchen areas too for their biophilic properties and homely feel.
Comfort and sound absorption
In other living spaces, safety floors can also be a wise choice, again with many homely and aesthetically appealing options to choose from. However, if fall prevention is less of a concern in living spaces, then look to vinyl floors that offer more comfort underfoot, especially those which also offer sound reduction properties, and a homely look and ease of cleaning too.
For example, Altro Serenadeis a 19dB vinyl acoustic floor that contributes to the impact sound reduction of noise in buildings by reducing impact sound transmission, increasing sound absorption and reducing sound reflection. Where noise reduction is needed to reduce in-room sound and transmission of noise you can also consider Altro Illustra adhesive-free and Altro Wood Comfort floors for example, which offer 14dB. Altro Ensemble and Altro Orchestra ranges offer 15dB.
You can also combine the floor of your choice with impact sound reduction underlays. For example, Altro Acoustic Underlay 1101 and Altro Everlay B offer sound reductions of 17dB and 21dB respectively, when used in conjunction with an Altro sheet vinyl floor.
Case study — MSV Housing, Cheshire
A unique housing concept was created on the Foxcote housing development in Heald Green by Bloor Homes and Stockport MBC in partnership with MSV Housing Association and Lifeways care provider. The house was to provide fully-adapted, independent living accommodation for young people with autism, learning difficulties and mental health issues.
Built on land sold by the Seashell Trust, the house was designed as a single supported dwelling, providing living spaces for three young adults with neurodiverse needs. The home needed to convey a biophilic feeling of space and light, with muted tones and earthy colours.
MSV Housing Association, Sara Darwin of Phi Architects and the parent of one of the young adults worked hand-in-hand to create a specification for the build that considered all requirements. This included a connected, welcoming, shared living, dining and kitchen space that could be separated as and when needed, individual homely bedrooms, a calm and soothing sensory room, safe and hygienic bathrooms and kitchen area — all of which were anti-pick, reduced transference of noise and provided ease of cleaning.
In the dining and kitchen area, Altro Wood Comfort in colour Aged Oak was specified bringing a biophilic feel into the open areas. The bathrooms were furnished with Altro Whiterock Satins in colour Linen, Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) walls with an underwater theme, and Altro Pisces safety floor. The safety flooring was also specified for the individual toilet. Altro Wood Comfort provided comfort and sound reduction throughout the house in the bedrooms, sensory room, and hallways.
“We are delighted with how the house has come together. The parents are happy it is a safe robust home for the young adults,” said Sara Darwin of Phi Architects.
Header image: The bathrooms at the independent living accommodation feature Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) walls with an underwater theme
