Dementia design Bofællesskabet Vintervej focuses on bright and comfortable everyday environment
Altro Aquarius
The community Vintervej Aarhus is a recent example of design for dementia in Denmark. The project has built 36 homes for elderly people who are intellectually disabled or have dementia.
GPP Architects designed the houses, putting emphasis on creating a bright and friendly setting. Soren Madsen, Partner at GPP Architects, explains:
“Generally, it is important the colour scheme is calm, so residents can safely move around. For example, dark patterns on a light floor can cause confusion because the pattern is perceived as holes you have to go around. Therefore, we selected colours to create the best conditions for a safe everyday life.”
The specialist design team chose Altro Aquarius safety flooring for the bathrooms. Altro Aquarius was developed for lasting performance in wet and dry, shoes or barefoot. Achieving Class B to DIN 51097 for barefoot use, plus a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of ≥50 (Slider 96), Altro Aquarius provides optimum lifetime sustained slip resistance in areas where users are most vulnerable.
Soren Madsen continues: “Altro Aquarius reduces the risk of a fall to one in a million for the lifetime of the flooring because the slip resistance continues throughout the floor.
“The bathrooms are built with corner showers to ensure optimal support for both residents and carers. Slip resistant flooring and easy cleanability were essential features. We have used Altro safety flooring for many years and have good experiences with it.”
Dorthe Lindegaard, Head of Bofællesskabet Vintervej said: “The floors feel very safe when dry or wet. It provides a sense of security in the daily lives of residents and staff.
“Another advantage of the floors is that they are easy to keep clean. The cleaning staff has also noticed the welcoming atmosphere the friendly and bright shades create.”
The installation was carried out by Høi Carpets, which have installed flooring in a number of care homes.
Owner Lars Høi stresses the importance of working with floor coverings that are slip-resistant and durable for care environments.
Lars Høi said: “Beyond the functional requirements, the floors must be comfortable to walk on for users and staff. For us as a contractor, it is also important the floors are flexible and easy to install. Altro Aquarius is really easy to work with.”
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