Alterations to floors such as carpets can help older people to stay in their homes for longer, it has been stated.
A spokesperson for home improvement agencies body Foundations said a wide range of actions could be taken to prevent people needing to move into care homes in their later years.
She commented: "Securing a loose carpet or fitting grab rails can considerably reduce the likelihood of a person having an accident in the home or being admitted to hospital."
Having a thick, soft carpet may also help reduce impact in the event of a fall.
The installation of cork flooring in kitchens has also been advocated as a way of helping older people, with the issue of falls very much in mind.
Last October, Canadian couple Alison and Peter Faid chose cork as their kitchen material on the basis that it would be useful to them as they got older as a softer surface should either of them stumble, the Edmonton Journal reported.
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