People with dementia have special flooring needs. Many develop gait and balance problems and walk with a shuffle. In later stages, they may be using a wheelchair. Others have low vision and perceptual problems that increase fall risk. And problems with incontinence can make certain types of bedroom flooring slippery. The person may also have lost housekeeping skills, and clutter may be scattered around the bedroom flooring.

The choice of flooring is important too. Wall to wall carpeting can offer warmth and good sound control, but plush carpeting also poses problems. The tip of a shoe or the wheels of a walker or wheelchair can become stuck in the thick pile. Then too, some floor finishes are slippery underfoot. And lastly, someone who shuffles or uses a walker may trip on the slightest raise in floor level, including area carpets.

Click on the After Photograph to view the room after it was tidied up and the area carpets and extension cord removed. For practical flooring tips, place your cursor over a circle.