Lighting
Most older adults require three times as much light as young people for visual clarity. Repeated exposure to poor lighting may reduce visual skills even further. Here are some suggested guidelines for keeping lighting at an adequate level for the elderly: - Use 100-150 watts for reading lamps; floor lamps may need up to 300 watts. Do not use more than 60 watts in any fixture if the maximum wattage is not listed.
- Fixtures that bounce light off the ceiling will increase overall room lighting. An uplight such as a torchiere is a good choice for accomplishing this. Illuminating walls create a similar effect.
- Choose color-corrected fluorescent bulbs, such as natural white, which are safer than halogen bulbs due to fire risk. Fluorescent bulbs are cost- effective and energy efficient.
- Keep continuity in lighting levels to avoid shadows or dark patches.
- Full spectrum lighting that minimizes daylight will render colors more accurately. This is important for aging eyes that experience a decrease in color perception.
- Use window sheers or vertical blinds, as well as tinted glass, to reduce glare for older people who are especially sensitive to this kind of light.
- Use large, diffuse, indirect light sources above the upper visual field to help reduce glare. Locate the light so that the viewing angle does not equal the angle of incidence.
- There should be a light switch at every entrance to a room. Use remote control units for lights to meet special needs.
- Use Night lights in a residential setting, or anywhere a person may need a lighted path from one room to another in the dark. Night lights with motion sensors are a good option.
- Install plug-in emergency lights with a battery backup unit that turns on automatically in a blackout.
For information related to lighting, see the sections on colors, mobility and safety.
Further reading on the topic of lighting can be found in:Elderdesign: Home Modifications for Enhanced Safety and Self-Care. Author:Rosemary Bakker. The Care Management Journals, vol. 1 (1), 1999. pp. 47-54.Shaping a Life-style of Independence: Abilities, Aging, and Environmental Design.Author: Lorraine G. Hiatt. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 82 (5), 1992. pp. 272-277.Age, Luminance, and Print Legibility in Homes, Offices, and Public Places. Authors: Neil Charness and Katinka Dijkstra. Human Factors, vol. 41 (2), June 1999. pp. 173-193.
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