C&A Floorcoverings Contributes to Alzheimer's Disease Research Project; Powerbond's Glare Reduction and Slip-Resistant Features Increase Patients' Comfort Levels.

Business Editors

DALTON, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003

Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings, Inc. (C&A), a leading manufacturer of soft-surface floorcoverings used in healthcare facilities, recently announced its affiliation with clinical research trials studying the effects of high intensity lighting on Alzheimer's patients living in long term care facilities. C&A has donated Powerbond RS(R) floorcoverings to be utilized for glare reduction in the research facility.

The rapid growth of the nation's older population has brought about an increasing awareness of the special health service needs of older adults. According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in 10 persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, and the most common form of dementia. In fact, half of all nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer's or a related disorder.

Conducted by The Program on Aging, Disablement, and Long Term Care at the Cecil G. Sheps Center, a health service research center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the High Intensity Light Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease study will look at the impact of the lights on 124 to 178 residents over an 18-month period. Particular attention will be placed on circadian rhythms and sleep affects as well as agitation and depression levels in both patients and staff.

Phillip D. Sloane, MD, MPH, co-director of the Program on Aging, Disablement, and Long Term Care at the Cecil G. Sheps Center, said that the project involves significant construction at John Umstead Hospital, the North Carolina inpatient psychiatric hospital that will serve as the research site.

"Because the light intensity will be greatly magnified in the facility, we want to reduce the resulting glare as much as possible for residents with impaired vision or who may be unsteady on their feet. C&A's generous donation will enable our researchers to further increase safety and comfort levels of the participants," said Sloane. "We greatly appreciate C&A's contribution to our study."

"Appropriate lighting is essential to help prevent falls. This study will dramatically increase light levels for residents and patients who have become used to the typically low levels found in most hospital settings," said Elizabeth Brawley, president of Design Concepts Unlimited, Sausalito, Calif. A designer who specializes in accommodating for the special needs of older adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease in long-term care facilities, Brawley encourages research in order to design better and safer environments.

"Many older adults are affected by vision impairment which limits their mobility," said Brawley. "They are afraid of falling and the glare on shiny floors can make them appear slick. The end result - these individuals stop moving, quit walking, and become immobile."

"We are confident that installing Powerbond in the research site will positively affect participating residents," said Mark Taylor, C&A's general manager of healthcare markets. "Powerbond is specifically designed to help prevent slipping and falls while eliminating the glare that often results from buffed hard surfaces - a benefit for patients with impaired vision or who may be unsteady on their feet."

Sloane said that the floorcoverings donated by C&A will help maximize the positive impact of the lighting intervention. A quieter, seemingly calmer facility can help reassure patients and improve staff morale. According to Taylor, carpet reduces noise levels by absorbing sound. Medical and nursing staffs will also appreciate the diminished levels of muscle fatigue associated with long periods of standing, while administrators appreciate the reduced staff healthcare costs and increased productivity. In addition, the surface temperature keeps patients warmer by reducing coldness at foot and ankle levels.

About Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research 

The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research is one of the nation's oldest and largest health services research centers. Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the center encompasses an interdisciplinary program of research, consultation, technical assistance and training focusing on the accessibility, adequacy, organization, cost and effectiveness of health care services. The Center supports itself with funds from the State of North Carolina and with contracts and grants from several philanthropic foundations and federal government agencies, most notably the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes (among others) the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Aging, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The Program on Aging, Disablement, and Long Term Care emphasizes factors that affect functional status and promote self-care, independent living and quality of life among older adults. In addition, the program embraces a concern for the extent, quality and availability of long-term care services for persons of any age and for programs that address the special needs of the disabled.

ABOUT C&A FLOORCOVERINGS

An international manufacturer and supplier of high-performance commercial carpeting for the corporate, healthcare, education, government, and retail sectors, C&A Floorcoverings is renowned for pioneering the development of environmentally responsible products. The Dalton, Ga.-based company produces floorcoverings that last up to three times longer than conventional carpeting and remains the first and only manufacturer to make 100 percent-recycled-content vinyl backing, ER3(R). C&A is a leading producer of modular carpet tile and the leading producer of six-foot roll carpet. C&A, along with Crossley Carpet Mills and Monterey Carpets, is part of the Tandus Group, the fourth largest commercial floorcoverings company in the world.