Designing for Dementia | Forbo Flooring Systems

Designing for Dementia environments

The flooring solutions that Forbo Fooring Systems can offer cover a wide area of applications in a broad range of designs and textures. Health care and aged care environments are seen as our area of competence and are a core focus of our product portfolio both in functionality and design. For special care and dementia facilities, we have made a comprehensive selection of those products and designs that help to a create a safe and pleasurable environment enabling to establish a sense of well-being for the individual.

Flooring products and designs

Floor covering is one of the most essential factors in determining a bases for designing a dementia environment as it has much impact on safety and orientation of a space, giving patient confidence, security and independence. In creating our dementia flooring collection we have made a selection from our product portfolio by considering those products and those collections and designs, that are suitable for special care, assisted living and dementia environments. Our selection, created by our design team with the help of independent consultants, results in a series of floor designs that can be combined together and offer a suitable basis for other interior finishes.

Let our product finder help you to discover our selection

Creating a collection

Designing for dementia is no ‘exact science’ in the sense that clear boundaries can be made as to which design is or is not suitable. When it comes to using individual colours, designs or textures it can well be that what is ‘good and acceptable’ in one country may well be judged to be ‘questionable or not accepted’ in another.

In our offer we have tried to keep an open mind and focused on the practical tools that help create suitable environments. What is important to realise is the fact that the choices you make always depend on the specific project and that common sense and basic design principles lie at the start of every interior design. In a dementia environment no single design element stands on its own. More so than in other situations the floor is an integral part of the design, together with the colour of the walls, doors, furniture, sanitary fitting and lighting schemes. Providing contrast in lightness between the various objects is of importance, just as providing harmony within the individual objects.

We like to see our flooring selection as a practical toolbox for creating the environment of your taste and respecting the general design guidelines.

Colour and colour combinations
Colour, also in designing for dementia is a matter of taste. In our selection therefore we have not made a colour choice as such. Instead we looked closely at the contrast and harmony in lightness of the colours with which designs can be created that provide a good bases for the colours of other interior elements such as walls and furniture. Contrasting floor colours in a building can be used to indicate that certain areas are off-limit, f.e. staff areas, or indicate a clearly different space, f.e. stairs, bathroom, or toilet.

Light refection values
Light reflection values (LRV) are the most important design tools for dementia environments. We have added the LRV of all products in our dementia flooring selection In this way combinations of various colours and products can be made by using identical or contrasting LRV’s for the area that needs to be furnished. As LRV’s are a universal measurement for all materials, also the LRV of wall covering or furniture can be measured against the colours chosen for the floor. In our set-up you can see the light reflection values of all products grouped together which allows you to make a choice within a certain LRV range or decide to go beyond that. In this way the LRV guide of the dementia flooring selection provides a practical tool for designers of dementia environments

Designs
The designs in our collections are coordinated, in such a way that different products can be used next to each other. There are no strong repetitive patterns with ‘trompe d’oeuil’ effects, where people are confused or tempted to try and pick design elements from the floor. Our designs all are matt, avoiding the disturbing reflection that occurs with high gloss surfaces (be careful that a cleaning and maintenance regime also results in matt flooring surfaces). We have also paid attention to select a number of designs that by their nature provide a homely atmosphere. Textile, vinyl as well as linoleum designs are able to generate a recollection of the past and to create an environment that looks like being home whilst being in a dementia environment. In particular the subdued wood designs in our selection are an example of this. Finally choices are made in such a way that when applied correctly, there are no transitions between different surfaces that are difficult to manage at old age.

Our floor covering selection

For the typical applications in dementia environments we have selected the following products:

Marmoleum, natural linoleum floors that is available in a range of tranquil allover designs in a wide range of colours. Marmoleum has a smooth surface which makes maneuvering easy even when walking has become a ‘shuffle’.
See the Marmoleum selection in the product finder

Step, slip resistant vinyl which is available natural overall wood and stone like designs as well as various muted colours. The traditional shiny non slip particles have been replaced matt crystals that do not light up and have become part of the design visual.
See the Step safety flooring selection in the product finder

Eternal, sheet vinyl that is available in mute all over natural designs that mimic homely environments. Seamless application ideal for corridors as well as living areas.
See the Eternal vinyl selection in the product finder

Allura, luxury vinyl tiles create realistic natural floors without the hazard of tripping or seams opening up. Easy to install and decorative. Out of the wide collection of designs we have chosen the most suitable and muted, tone in tone items.
See the Allura selection for dementia in our product finder

Flotex, flocked flooring: this textile floor is created from a densely packed nylon flock surface mounted on a vinyl backing, can be cleaned with water detergent and scrubbers and as such is the most hygienic textile in the market.
See the Flotex selection in the product finder

Committed to the Health of One

Forbo Flooring Systems prides itself in being a leader in sustainable flooring applications. With our wide range of different categories of floor covering we are truly able to deliver floor covering solutions for any environment and application. In our sustainability programme ‘Committed to the health of one’ we emphasise the development of our products in relation to the quality of the indoor environment and the individual using and occupying the space. By focusing on health and safety, health & hygiene and health & wellbeing it is our ambition to make a positive contribution to the indoor environment. Our special dementia selection out of our product offer should help to create better places for special care homes.

Literature and expertise

The literature on Alzheimer is abundantly available is all languages. Websites and special interest group can point out which specialists or experts to consult when designing for special care, aged care and dementia environments.

A special mention is made of the following centres of expertise:

Dementia Services Development Centre Stirling University

Alzheimer Europe

General dementia information

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