For most adults, getting older means, you’ll have to deal with the added challenges of aging. You may have heard your friends lament about “the good old days” when they were still young and energetic. But there’s a good chance that they won’t feel quite as spry and healthy as they used to be as they age. And this is especially true for those who are dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you’re looking for homes for dementia care in your area, then you already know how important it is for these residents to receive the best possible care if at all possible. It is also important to know that the right lighting can help to boost your loved one’s mood and well-being. The following are some benefits of high-quality lighting in memory care homes for dementia.
Safety Is Always The First Priority
Lighting is important for safety. Residents need adequate light to see the floor, even with low vision. The lighting should be bright enough so that residents can see the floor. For example, if you are currently using incandescent bulbs in your memory care home’s hallway lights and want to switch over to LEDs, consider replacing them with brighter versions of the same wattage (e.g., 100 watts). If your loved one has low vision and needs assistance with mobility, consider installing additional lights in hallways or near exits so that your loved one can easily find his way around at night or during inclement weather.
Provide Adequate Light For Mobility, Even For Those With Low Vision
Even if you have a resident with low vision, it’s important to provide adequate lighting for mobility. You can use lamps or LED bulbs to provide a consistent illumination level. Ideally, indirect lighting should reduce glare and make it easier for residents with limited sight to see their path. If possible, install dimmer switches on your hallways so that you can adjust the brightness depending on the time of day or weather outside
Assist In Helping Residents Make The Right Choices
Lighting can be used to assist residents in making the right choices. For example, if a resident needs clarification about what time it is and thinks it’s still nighttime, you could use lighting to help them determine whether it’s morning or evening. Consider using lights that change color or brightness depending on the time of day. This will give your loved one a visual cue about what part of their day has arrived.
Lighting can also assist with orientation for those with dementia and memory loss issues, who may have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar spaces like hallways or bathrooms during nighttime hours when natural light isn’t available. This problem can be exacerbated by poor vision due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma; however even without these conditions present there are still many factors involved including how much light gets into each room as well as how far away from windows they are located within each room itself!
Lighting Helps You Feel Safe
Lighting can be used to calm the most agitated patient or to help them feel more secure when they’re exploring new places in their home. Lighting can help with orientation and memory, mood, sleep, and stress levels, which are important for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand how important lighting is to the lives of seniors with dementia. Even though they may not be able to tell you what they like or dislike about their environment, it’s still important to remember that your choices can profoundly impact their well-being.
