If you run a business that is responsible for furnishing care homes then there are things you need to bear in mind when approaching your customers with the right material so they can create an environment that is right for their patients. It is far more complex for your clients than simply browsing through a catalogue or scouring a website for the cheapest and most basic chairs and tables. They will have to take into consideration the needs of their staff and residents at the same time as trying to develop a pleasing aesthetic.
Here are some thoughts on what care homes need to consider and how your business can accommodate them, room by room.
Living Space
Residents of care homes spend most of their time in the lounge, and so when furnishing that space the onus is on comfort. Soft fabrics with removable covers are ideal, allowing for simple and straightforward cleaning in the event of any accidents and spillages.
In the dining room meanwhile sanitation is vital as over time any furniture in there is likely to endure its fair share of food and drink damage, so a fabric that can easily be cleaned is best. Great options to go for include vinyl, hide and faux hide. These can be wiped easily and will not show stains as much as other kinds of material would.
When furnishing a conservatory, the problem is a slightly different one. Anything positioned in a conservatory is going to spend a large portion of its life in the face of direct sunlight, which is likely to cause soft materials to fade over time. Vinyl and hide however are significantly less susceptible to damage caused by sunlight, so they are well worth considering here too. Curtains and blinds from a firm like Peelmount are worth thinking about too, as they make convenient additions to regulate light entering any room.
Private Rooms
In residents’ bedrooms meanwhile the focus is far more on the individual user. If a resident is high functioning and doesn’t suffer from medical conditions likely to cause damage to the furniture’s fabric, then soft material is ideal. Waterproof soft fabrics or vinyl may be more appropriate however if they have medical conditions to bear in mind.
Ultimately care homes have individual residents for whom they have to cater, so if you’re providing furnishings to them then you must go out of your way to offer what they need. That way they will come back to you and boost your business.
Photo credit: Simon / Flickr
