My elderly parents have the most ridiculously slippery floor

[FreshandLively]

It's a solid wood floor, which my mum has been polishing regularly with soild beeswax polish, on her hands and knees, for 40+ years.

They're not a shoes off household, so I hadn't noticed just how dangerous it is, but at Christmas I did take my shoes off and went flying every time I so much as put a socked foot on the floor.

Mum and Dad wear slippers which does reduce the risk, but even so whilst fit and active, they're both approaching 80 and mum has already had a couple of falls (outside the house) resulting in broken bones.

Is there another way to care for this floor which would make it less sippery?

Look up liberon anti slip coating on Amazon. Someone recommended it to me recently because our front path is a nightmare. I haven't used it by the reviews say people have used it on wooden stairs/floor. Might help

@Dollyparton3

Look up liberon anti slip coating on Amazon. Someone recommended it to me recently because our front path is a nightmare. I haven't used it by the reviews say people have used it on wooden stairs/floor. Might help

It's not going to help if mum keeps polishing on top though She needs a non slip polish if such a thing exists.

Mix in some sand ??

You know how some people have a basketful of slippers for guests?

What about a basket full of crampons for guests?

I think I'd be trying to persuade them to put carpet down OP. You could use the 'no more having to polish it on hands and knees' argument? People have to come to terms with the changes that make life safer and easier as they get older.

You could use Michael Caine as an example - he's selling off things he's collected over the years and downsizing, saying 'It's the right time...'.
metro.co.uk/2022/01/10/sir-michael-caine-selling-paintings-and-mementos-as-he-downsizes-home-15893673/

It's their floor. What do they say? Are their slippers grippy enough?

She wouldn't like to not have the floor to polish, that wouldn't be a bonus to her.

Upgrade their slippers to ones with proper soles ?

If their slippers are ok then it doesn’t seem like an immediate issue?

There are other ways to polish the floor. There are, for example, treatments that are mopped onto the floor and dry to a non slip shine. Your mother won’t necessarily like them though.

Getting down on her hands and knees to do the polishing regularly is probably a really good core workout and improves her muscle strength and balance. That can help reduce her risk of falling.

If you’re worried about falls and your Mum in particular because she’s had broken bones, has she been checked for osteoporosis? Has she had an eye and hearing test recently?

They wear slippers.
Changing the slipperiness may well make it more dangerous for them as the resistance would be different from what they are used to.

If you don't want to wear slippers at theirs perhaps get some socks with grippy bottoms.

Not for you to change what they are happy with - at least until they ask for help. If one of them starts having issues, then is the time to offer support.