Powerbond®the aged care carpet & vinyl alternative - exclusive from Geo Flooring
Lutheran Aged Care - Albury is an 'Ageing In
Place' facility, located at 10 Somerset Drive, Albury. Faced with the dilemma of refurbishing 4 clusters of dementia wings and building a new 52 bed ageing in place
facility, Brian Elliot, CEO realized that a needs assessment was essential.
Lutheran Aged Care was looking to create an environment that was aesthetically pleasing;
homelike, with inviting interiors, creating a feeling of warmth, comfort and focusing on their client's wellness and wellbeing. In considering floor coverings
the needs assessment was vital prior to moving forward and any decision making.
The needs assessment revealed that there would be an increasing cost of maintenance
for the new facility due to the constant cleaning and maintenance of the proposed vinyl flooring and commercial carpet.
Thermal issues due to the extreme temperatures
experienced in Albury, were a concern, so the floor coverings needed to assist with fluctuations in ambient temperature. The modern design of the facility being single
level and allowing for a lot of natural light required a floor covering that absorbed glare and sound, to create the right sensory environment.
The displacement of the wings and the shear size of the new facility added to potential leg and lower back fatigue in staff and clients alike, so comfort and cushioning
underfoot were extremely important.
Following the needs assessment, carpet or carpet tile was not an option due to a number of issues including: trolley push and
pull resistance, cleaning of spills, odour control, stain removal, and the environmental impact of chemical additives to floor coverings.
To reduce Duty Of Care issues such as slips, trips and falls, it was considered appropriate to decrease the level of hard surfacing in the facility which requires daily
wet mopping creating possible risk.
Liking the sound of the Powerbond® 'Soft Surface Vinyl' but not convinced on how it would perform, the Lutheran's trialed Powerbond® in
a highly incontinent dementia room for in excess of 12 months.
"Choosing Powerbond® 'Soft Surface Vinyl' throughout both facilities has created a homely, healing and
healthy environment, which is odourless with easy low maintenance" says Brian. "It is truly an alternative to traditional carpet or vinyl and is proving to be cost
effective, we are very pleased with our end result."
For further information contact:
GEO Flooring
phone: 02 9906 4822
fax: 02 9906 4844
web: www.planit-sys.com.au
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