The importance of adequate lighting and shade cannot be underestimated in aged care settings. With age, the pupil becomes smaller thus reducing the amount of light that can enter the eye, the lens becomes yellowed thereby scattering light, reducing contrast and reducing the ability to focus. All these factors contribute to the special lighting needs of the senior population. Further to this, many residents also experience difficulty with sudden light changes or glare.
Visual performance and safety can go hand-in-hand. Residents in senior care facilities need to feel independent when undertaking everyday tasks. They want to move through the hallways without assistance, and go about their day independently. In order for them to do this, they need proper light levels around the facility to increase their visual performance. Poor visual performance can lead to falls and accidents, which could have a more serious impact on their long-term health. With improper lighting, shadows and glares can be created, also negatively impacting visual performance.
Circadian rhythm plays a significant role in senior care lighting. Some studies have shown that proper lighting can have positive impacts on residents with dementia. Dementia is a progressive disease that causes the decline of mental abilities accompanied by changes in personality. This causes the person’s environment to become more and more confusing. Customized lighting and shading solutions can help with difficulties with recognition and perception as well as difficulties with time and place orientation.
By tuning lighting to match the natural daylighting provided by the sun, sleep-wake cycles are better regulated. A disruption in the body’s circadian rhythm can cause agitation, fatigue and even alter hormone levels. To ensure their circadian rhythms aren’t disrupted, high contents of blue light should be used during the day, and decreased at night. Numerous studies have found that there was a 41 percent reduction in yelling, agitation and crying in dementia residents when they were in facilities that ensured that levels of lighting, glare and shade were appropriate and malleable. By decreasing shadows, reflections and glare, seniors have less falls and accidents. Glare can cause the eye to not recognize obstacles such as chairs, tables and other objects. Shadows can also cause accidents and even anxiety. Shadows can sometimes be seen as a threat or mistaken for something else. Good lighting should decrease shadows, reflections and glare and create an easy-transition facility. Meaning, seniors shouldn’t have to adjust their eyes or feel discomfort when moving from room to room around the facility.
All of these aspects can then lead to overall resident psychiatric wellness. If the residents are comfortable, have a sense of independence and are safe in their facility, they will maintain a healthy psyche.
