Lighting for the elderly

Hi Pat,

I’m an occupational therapist and sensory specialist and would like to comment on lighting for the elderly.

Aging takes its toll on the visual system in a number of ways, but predominantly through the degeneration or loss of the following:

  1. peripheral vision – causing the visual world to ‘narrow’
  2. reaction time (slower transmission from the visual stimuli to the occipital cortex for visual interpretation)
  3. night vision
  4. cataracts – causing a ‘blurring’ of vision
  5. macular degeneration (common with diabetes) – causing loss of central vision

Another problem in the elderly population, peripherally related to vision, is the loss of sensation to the lower extremities. This peripheral neuropathy causes the elderly to rely more heavily on vision for mobility, as they aren’t often able to ‘feel’ their feet.

All these factors contribute to increased risk of falls in the elderly, and necessitate the following home modifications:

  1. 1. Path lighting – wall mounts located 2′ off floor height. Install in paths frequented at night e.g. between bed and bathroom, and between bedroom and kitchen to improve night time vision. Elderly usually don’t want to wake their spouse with turning on overhead lighting at night.
  2. Task lighting – overhead pot lamps or under counter mounts. Install in kitchen, bathroom (over toilet, sink), den desk, laundry, garage work bench.
  3. Stair lighting – direct overhead and/or side mounts 2′ off floor level to illuminate stairs (most frequent area of falls).
  4. Natural light – as natural light has no glare, optimize vision with windows in above areas as much as possible.

The ‘new age’ lighting product that I recommend is called Ott-lite, which is a HD frequency that illuminates but without the glare. Great website www.Ott-Lite.com.

Sincerely,

Cris Rowan, BScOT, BScBi, SIPT
CEO Zone’in Programs Inc.
6840 Seaview Rd.
Sechelt, BC V0N3A4
604-885-0986 office, 604-885-0389 fax

crowan@zonein.ca