Choosing a flooring material for use in a home occupied by senior citizens can be tough. Choices such as carpeting can provide additional insulation and offer padding against a fall, but its fibres are harder to clean and tend to be hard to use with mobility aids. Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is easy to maintain and is a good fit for anyone with crutches or a wheelchair, but it is also quite hard to fall against.

Luckily, there are a number of steps that you can take to make hardwood flooring more advantageous for those who have reached old age.

Place Non-Slip Mats

Hardwood floors installed by a company such as improvix hardwood flooring Chicago located, are typically valued because of the distinction that they bring to a room, so you don’t want to cover too much of the floor’s surface area with rugs. That said, it’s a good idea to place them along high-traffic areas. For example, it’s sensible to lay long thin mats in the living room to let people get from the door to the sofa; this provides a softer surface to walk on, and people won’t need to place their feet on the cold floor. Just make sure you pick out non-slip mats to ensure that they won’t slide on the surface of the floor.

Avoid Waxing

One of the biggest advantages of hardwood flooring is that it is very easy to clean and maintain – something that seniors often have difficulty with. That said, you need to be careful and ensure that the flooring is cleaned in the right way. More specifically, never use wax for polishing. Doing so will make the floor slippery and unsafe.

Consider Unfloor Heating

Unfortunately, hardwood floors aren’t great at retaining heat. Seniors, especially those with circulatory problems, have to be careful not to let their extremities get too cold, and that can be tricky when walking around on a chilly floor. If you’re yet to lay down the flooring, try opting for underfloor heating from the likes of Heavenly Heat. It can keep everything nice and toasty all year round.

Hardwood floors can make a great flooring option for seniors. All you need to do is follow the tips and tricks listed above.