Is carpet or bare flooring better for bedroom for elderly who is bedridden and requires hygiene care?

Thank you ALL for your replies. Shad has probably had an experience similar to ours. The NH mom is in is supposedly best one in Raleigh, NC. (Per the Medicare website And the NC agency that regulates NHs here.) other than those for the wealthy..and even those have bad reports. I feel she would be home now and a little mobile if she had not been injured twice during rough handling in the rehab section and 3 more injuries during transfers to wheelchair after being moved to long term care section because she became afraid of rehab after those two injuries.

My brothers feel like most of you....that I won't be able to handle it. But it breaks my heart to see her there. They will not do any exercises for her....they only change her (and not always timely) and drop off a food tray. Those of you with decent NHs in your state are very lucky.

I did not like or trust the NH Rehab my aunt first went to.  Looked around, found a smaller MemoryCare NH that was awesome!  Moved aunt there and visited often.

Bare floor is better.
Better yet, if you have to put in flooring there are "new" water resistant laminates that look wonderful.

Absolutely not carpeting. And be careful if you choose wood. Many kinds of wood floors will dull and actually lift if mopped too much or if there are urine leaks. Luxury vinyl tile is one. Ours has lifted under my husband’s bed and there is actually a hole in the floor. If I had it to do over and I had a crystal ball, I would have chosen a floor with no seams that won’t lift. If you need to use a lift, and I would recommend getting one even if Mom is lightweight, it absolutely will not move on carpeting.

Hard floors are better - they can be cleaned.

I admire your optimism but I am doubtful that there is any chance she will ever regain the ability to get herself out of bed. Are you sure you understand what it will mean to care for her at home? I looked after my mother until she lost the ability to bear weight and transfer to her wheelchair and as much as I found institutional life maddening I can honestly say that at that point the nursing home was the best place for her - they had lifts for transfers, shifts of younger workers to care for her, she loved her tub baths (something she hadn't been able to have for years) and there was an RN, Nurse Practitioner and Doctor available whenever needed. I also can't imagine not having their care and support during her final days. Is the nursing home she is at now so terrible?

Hi, I wish you all the best caring for your Mom. If you will use a Hoyer lift to move her, hardwood floors are best. The lift is not easy to navigate even though it rolls.

You can get a hospital bed that has bed rails through Medicare or purchase rails that fit on a regular bed to prevent falls.

Hardwood floors are better for health reasons. Carpet can hold odors as well as grems like virus and bacterias along with dust and dead skin cells. Ugh!


Just my 2 cents!