There are currently around 350,000 Australians living with dementia, with this number expected to increase to 400,000 in the next decade. With Australia’s rapidly ageing population the number of people living with dementia in Australia is predicted to hit 900,000 by 2050.

This increase will lead to dementia becoming the third greatest source of health and residential aged care spending within two decades. By 2060 spending on dementia is set to outstrip that of any other health condition.

Much of this spending will be towards creating a safe and friendly environment for those living with dementia. For architects, designers and specifiers there will be increased need to create ‘dementia-friendly’ spaces to accommodate for this rise in dementia patients.

For sufferers of dementia, the interior design of a space can have an enormous bearing on the comfort and quality of life afforded to those within, and as one of the largest surfaces of any interior, the flooring design must come under special consideration.

The Victorian Department of Health has identified a number of areas to be addressed when specifying flooring to be used by dementia patients. Key considerations include:

  • Resilient flooring (sheet vinyl, vinyl tile) and carpet as opposed to hard surfaces helps to create a quieter, home-like environment
  • Non-slip surfaces and non-reflective finishes are necessary for wet areas
  • Resilient flooring is ideal for with mobility issues and wheelchairs
  • Make sure edges and steps are clearly defined
  • Colour, pattern and style are key to helping people work out the different areas of an interior

Forming a partnership with a trusted supplier is key to successful dementia-friendly design.

As a member of the Dementia Action Alliance, Polyflor is committed to offering suitable flooring design and specification guidance for specialist care facilities. Polyflor can assist architects and designers with a solution for dementia-friendly flooring, be it residential, commercial or institutional.

To find out more about the importance of dementia-friendly flooring and available solutions from Polyflor, click here to download this free white paper.