Istock 993673108

What to look out for

Quality of living in old age

Can't you live in the same way in old age as you do today? Are there any special requirements? What do you have to pay particular attention to? We have been dealing with the topic of living in old age for years. What materials are needed, what are the right designs and functionalities and what should be considered when choosing motifs and colors? There are always new findings and requirements that we incorporate into the design of the collections.

But let's get one thing straight from the start: textiles such as upholstery fabrics, curtains and blinds have a color-carrying function. They shape the room significantly and contribute to a pleasant room atmosphere, so that they have a positive effect on life, living and working.

CARE - This collection was developed in collaboration with experts in the industry, specifically to meet the requirements of living in old age. It consists of functional, flame-retardant textiles and wall coverings. The color scheme and the design of the surfaces and motifs focus on the needs of people in care facilities and all collection items are equipped with suitable functionalities. Discover the diverse color worlds and designs of the CARE. Collection.

Destatis bevölkerung d

A few figures to get you started

The number of older people in the population is increasing considerably. While one in five German citizens was over 65 in 2018, this figure is expected to rise to one in three by 2060. We are getting older and older and the birth rate in the western world is low. In 2019, around 818,000 people in Germany were cared for in 15,400 care homes, and the trend is rising. Around 70% of residents suffer from dementia.

This demographic change is of great social importance. It is changing the way we live together more and more. Government funding programs in the area of old age and care policy support projects to create better structures in this regard, promote knowledge, improve advice and promote participation in the lives of the older generations.

These figures show that the need for care facilities will continue to increase in the future. We need places that cater to the needs of senior citizens in need of care in order to improve their quality of life. Places where they feel comfortable and remain part of society. Places where they can find their way around and spend their twilight years in a relaxed manner.

Who lives in the nursing home?

People with dementia

Dementia is often the reason for moving into a care facility. Mental, cognitive and physical abilities are lost more and more over the years. Complex actions can often no longer be grasped due to the loss of short-term memory. Long-term memory, on the other hand, remains intact for a long time. Memories of the past are still possible for many dementia patients, but what has just happened is no longer present. This leads to an increased feeling of stress, which can be reduced by adapting the room situation.

The following should be taken into account when furnishing rooms for dementia patients:

The targeted use of calm colors, moderate patterns (show examples of unfavorable patterns), objects from the past and sound-absorbing materials helps to create a relaxed and safe environment for people with dementia.

People with visual impairments

Sight deteriorates with age. This often causes uncertainty and confusion for those affected. Color vision is also important for our mood and contributes to a natural zest for life.

Visual impairment

Due to the addition of various visual impairments, the intensity of colors is perceived less strongly in old age in poor lighting conditions and deteriorating vision, the eye distinguishes less the differences in hue and saturation than the light-dark contrasts.

Blue weakness

In older people, visual sensitivity in the biologically particularly effective range of the 430 nm wavelength (color blue) is reduced by around 80% compared to young people. The short-wave light components only reach the retina to a limited extent due to lens opacity. The color blue is therefore usually perceived as greyish in old age. To counteract this one should rely on the use of intense colors. In this way, colors return to the world of
seniors. The joy of life

Create contrasts

As mentioned above, the eye distinguishes between light and dark contrasts in particular as vision deteriorates. Through the correct use of light and the deliberate selection of high-contrast surfaces, visual accessibility can be created for residents. Because of these limitations, it is important to consider the following when designing the interior in terms of lighting, lighting, color scheme and choice of materials:

View healthy eye
Natur scharf
Aged eye view
Natur gealtert
Vision with cataracts
Natur unscharf
Care akustik stoffe d

Acoustics

Textiles create peace and quiet

Comfortable room acoustics are a crucial element in the interior design of care facilities, especially in public areas. Too much noise causes stress and insecurity, especially in people with advanced dementia. 
Fabrics are naturally sound-absorbent and make a significant contribution to better room acoustics. If curtains and upholstery fabrics with a particularly high level of sound absorption are used, the noise level can be significantly reduced. For residents, visitors and staff, this makes their stay much more relaxed.

Biophilic Design

Nature is good for you

Wald

A walk in the countryside can work wonders. It clears the mind and makes us feel good and refreshed. People in old age are often no longer physically able to go out into nature. It is therefore important to find other ways to give them access to nature. One option is to give them a view of the countryside outside. However, in many places this is only possible to a limited extent, especially in urban facilities. An alternative is to bring nature into the room by using natural materials, motifs and images inspired by nature and choosing bright, friendly colors. Current architectural trends underline this:

Biophilic Design (nature-loving design) 

This architectural concept connects people with nature. Large windows provide views of greenery, plants in the room are back in fashion and objects from nature are incorporated into the interior design.

Healing Architecture 

This new trend "describes a planning approach in the architecture of healthcare buildings that recognizes architecture as a variable to support the physical and psychological well-being of staff, patients and relatives."

Source Wikipedia

We were inspired by nature when choosing the colors and motifs for CARE. Nature has a calming and relaxing effect on the human mind. The sight of it creates a sense of security, safety and well-being. With the right choice of materials, you can bring nature into the room and create a positive atmosphere.

up