Senior citizens who suffer from mobility problems are often able to continue living in their own homes, but there are a number of changes that should be made to those homes in order to keep them safe. One of the best things to do is replace any hard, slippery flooring materials, such as wood or vinyl, with carpets, and you can make sure this carpeting is even more effective by following the tips listed below.

Go for Wool

Wool carpets come with plenty of benefits no matter your age. They are of extremely high quality and are very soft. It is this softness that makes them ideal for seniors with mobility issues since the force of each footfall will be absorbed more completely than when using a synthetic alternative.

A further benefit of wool carpeting is that its fibres are extremely resilient. Synthetic fibres will tend to get beaten down and flattened quite quickly, but wool fibres will rise back up. This means that wool carpeting won't be as quick to develop the small dips and marks that can be caused by canes, crutches and other items seniors use to get about safely.

Go for a Medium Density and Length

Carpets come in varying densities and fibre lengths, and some of them are better for seniors with mobility problems. Essentially, you need to opt for carpeting that boasts fibres of medium length and density.

Longer, denser fibres, such as those used for shag carpeting, are much harder to clean since they retain dust and dirt more easily. As seniors with mobility problems tend to have a hard time cleaning, this is going to be a problem. Such carpets can also cause people to trip. Extremely short fibres, on the other hand, will lack some the insulation and comfort that is often needed by the elderly.

Go for Padded

Carpeting is great on its own, but one of its additional advantages is that owners are able to place padding beneath it. This ensures that even more impact energy is absorbed when people step on the floor. Padding also provides a significant level of protection in case a fall does occur, lessening the likelihood of an injury occurring, as well as additional insulation.

If you're installing new carpeting in the home of a senior who suffers from mobility problems, adding padding first can be a good option. You can even have the current carpeting removed and padding placed beneath it.

For more ideas about your options, check out flooring online.