Anyone with limited vision or an uncertain sense of balance needs to feel secure when walking. Consider safety, ease of maintenance, and ease of mobility as well as aesthetics when selecting floor coverings. The floor should be level and firm underfoot.
- Select a nonskid material with a satin or dull finish. Reflected glare from glossy finishes can give a sense of instability.
- Avoid waxing. The glare and the slippery surface can be a hazard.
- Floors in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry areas, and entryways should be easy to care for, slip-resistant when wet, and glare-free.
- If carpet is used, select a low-level loop pile. Pile height should be no greater than 1/4 inch. Use thin padding underneath or no padding at all, and glue the carpet directly to the subfloor.
- Avoid patterns, strong color contrasts, and sculptured carpet. Those "busy" designs can cause visual problems and, thus, poor balance.
- Do not use area rugs. They tend to slip easily and can cause falls.
From: Life-Cycle Housing: Furnishing a User-Friendly Home, by Wilma S. Hammett, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University. Used with permission.
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