HEALTHCARE FLOORING
regulating the body clock. For this reason, best practice for interior design in the healthcare sector is to ensure that the inclusion of a natural light source is made a priority wherever possible.
Acoustics
Noise can be a source of anxiety, particularly in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. By using absorbent partitions and acoustic flooring specially designed to reduce the clang of falling objects and the sound of footsteps, noise is kept to a minimum, and the comfort of residents and care staff ensured.
Slip resistance
Tarkett says that it is important that healthcare facilities are ‘created in a way that is practical for all patients for the longest period of time possible’.
while others create a sense of wellbeing by reminding them of daily life. As well as choosing colour and pattern for the purposes of general wellbeing, aesthetics can also help to combat disorientation – a symptom of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Residents often find it very difficult to understand where they are, and so may need clear markers to help navigate between the different ‘zones’ in their unit. This can be achieved by using contrasting colours between the walls and floors to aid seeing dimension. Pastel colours often cannot be seen easily, so should be avoided. A single colour is the best way to indicate ambulation areas.
Texture
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are characterised by memory loss, but flooring can actually help stimulate memories, by re-creating home-like spaces through design.
For example, using imitation materials such as wood vinyl may have a familiar reference for the patient, reminding them of home, or evoking childhood memories. By contrast, certain patterns could disturb or confuse patients: for instance, large stripes, repetitive geometric patterns, contrasting colours, typographical motifs, and imitations of natural materials, such as grass or pebbles.
Light
Insomnia is one of the most frequent problems to affect those living with Alzheimer’s. More characteristic, still, is the inversion of the wake/sleep pattern called the circadian rhythm. The choice of suitable lighting can play a part in helping to re-establish the wake/ sleep cycle. Improving the use of light – which studies show affects the secretion of melatonin and cortisol hormones – is important in
68 Health Estate Journal January 2020
As with any commercial flooring solution – especially for a healthcare project – the correct specification of non-slip, sustainable safety flooring is extremely important for dementia units. However, whereas traditional safety flooring is the usual ‘go-to’ for healthcare settings, Tarkett believes that for spaces designed specifically for the elderly, a slightly different approach should be taken. High friction solutions work to combat slips, but for individuals with limited movement capabilities, this can actually lead to a greater chance of tripping. This supports the case that a single-fit solution cannot be applied to all projects.
Tarkett’s Safetred Acoustic collection has been designed specifically with aged care bedrooms in mind. Boasting acoustic qualities – a 17dB impact sound reduction – and Safety Clean XP PUR reinforced surface for excellent resistance and easy maintenance, its finish is ideal for specialist, high-traffic environments.
The future is bright
Over the past decade, Tarkett has built up an understanding of the needs and perceptions of the elderly and, in particular, those living with dementia. We continue as a company to add to this knowledge – through regular research reports and ‘white papers’ – while work with the different parties active in the care home and specialist unit sector enables us to develop floor and wallcovering solutions with aesthetic design and technical benefits that enhance the quality of life both for residents in care, and the staff looking after them. To directly support those designing for healthcare, Tarkett has launched VR-EP – an evidence-based virtual reality tool that has been endorsed by the leading experts in dementia design. Constantly being updated and refined, the platform is now higher resolution, and offers an enhanced user experience.
‘Evidence-based dementia filter’ By using the world’s only evidence-based dementia filter, architects, designers, and care home workers can immerse
themselves in a care home environment and experience first-hand how dementia affects vision. Users of the VR-EP system can therefore fully understand how contrast, colour, texture, and material play a key role in improving the quality of life for residents in aged care facilities, as well as reducing any anxiety over slips and falls.
Tarkett is running ‘lunch and learn sessions’ across the UK, to help raise awareness of the importance of considered interior design for the healthcare sector.
Ultimately, good interior design for the healthcare sector is sensitive to the needs of elderly residents or those living with dementia, catering to both practical and aesthetic needs. With the number of patients on the rise, applying these rules and considerations to the wider healthcare sector is a practical solution to help address the needs of those with a broader range of conditions. As more is learned about the impact of design elements on conditions like dementia, interior designers, architects, and specifiers, will continue to play a key role in improving the lives of many.
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ElizabethButcher
Elizabeth Butcher, Tarkett’s Healthcare Segment marketing manager, has worked with public and private organisations of all sizes throughout the UK – ranging from from single residential agencies, to integrated Kent County Council- operated providers. Now working for Tarkett, a global flooring manufacturer specialising in products for the NHS, aged care, and residential sectors, one of her roles is to demonstrate the principles of good dementia design through the use of ‘the world’s first and only evidence-based dementia filter’.
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