jmm1837 is correct -- proper shoes will make a world of difference and be the most economical solution for you. I never wore shoes in the house until I moved into my retirement home with tiled floors. You may have to experiment with what works best for you -- I found ergonomic "comfort" slide-ons the most convenient to use in the house because I can slip them off easily when I sit downt to watch television or read.

Great advice. There are also rubber type floors that might work in this situation as well.

Try the new shoes just for the house. SAS has good slip on and lace up shoes with arch support and padding.

I second, third or fourth wearing shoes in the house because my aging feet are no longer comfortable barefoot - in my youth I would never have worn shoes at home

I wear Travel Time by Easy Spirt because they are so easy to slip on and off and have a nice bouncy absorbent sole. If you want even more support or comfort the insole comes out easily and can be replaced with a better one. I got some replacement insoles from amazon.

I also like that these can be worn outside the home as well as inside so it's a pretty seamless transition.

They are relatively inexpensive and Easy Spirit website always seems to have some sale going on.

Yes to Sketchers with memory foam!

If, the shoes don't work. Tear out the floor and install a sprung floor system. The subfloor system involves installing shock absorbers. Sprung floors are used for sports and dance floors.

You can even get memory foam insoles for an existing pair of shoes.

I second the shoes. I have flat feet and as a result, a pulled tendon in my left foot (the one that's supposed to hold up your arch). Motion control (anti-pronation) walking shoes have helped my a lot--Brooks Addiction (walking shoes and running shoes). I walk 1.5 miles each way to work and home every day that the weather's nice. And what's even better is using Walk-Fit arch support inserts. I'm sold on them. The combination has helped me a lot.

And finally, for your listening enjoyment, your life's story:

'Dancer With Bruised Knees" and "The Walking Song" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Rufus Wainright's mother and aunt, and composers of "Talk to Me of Mendocino"). They're on YouTube. Amazing singers.

Try Crocs: this would be an inexpensive way to test the shoe theory.

I'm a former long distance runner and LOVED my Junckers floating solid hardwood floors for their slight but oh so wonderful spring. We are remodeling and I'm hoping I can save them, but if not, we'll probably go with porcelain tile and I'll live the rest of my days in my Keen hiking shoes with SuperFeet insoles (highly recommended!!).

There are rubber flooring options, but they mostly look like they belong in a garage or kid's room or gym. Here is one in tan.

I just had cork click floors installed in the bedrooms and it feels a lot softer even than the plywood floors covered with real linoleum that is in the hall outside the bedrooms. I understand not wanting to use a full-price product like this, due to the possibility of new flooding. I might just use the rubber rolled flooring, in your case.

Hi Marci - I’m so sorry to hear of your situation. Walking on hard floors with arthritis sounds terrible. i had engineered hardwood with 1/4 in cork underlayment installed. i love it!! quiet, supportive, very durable with dogs, spills etc, and softer underfoot than solid hardwood. however, it was a little expensive for the material and install.

if you want carpet that is easy to clean and on the less expensive side, I’d go with berber and a thick pad. You can get berber for around .69 sq ft and a 1/2 in cork pad for around $100 for 200sq foot at home depot who installs carpet for free. that may still sound like a lot of money but they do have financing if that is something you are interested in. it may be worth checking out. I hope you can find a solution that works for you. if you chose something like a rubber do check the VOC emissions/off gassing properties. Natural rubber is safe but could be costly - walking on and living on a synthetic rubber may have toxins to (for you & your dogs) consider.

Also there is stronger than heck carpet tape you can use on your throw rugs if you cannot find another option on your flooring. i tell you, the rugs wont move (even if you want them to...trust me and my empty bottles of goo gone!)

this is an example of berber

i wish you the best!

You could now still go to a vinyl floor but one with the base made of something softer on your back and feet. We installed dri-core under ours to help with comfort and makes the floors warmer in outr basement. I think coretec is one that you could look at. I second the shoe part first I work in a resaturant with concrete floors and my work shoes are chef shoes that are slip ons and are awesome.