#42 - Seeing Clearly: The Senior Connection Between Lighting and Safety

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Proper lighting is crucial for seniors' safety, independence, and wellbeing as aging eyes require specific accommodations to function optimally. Our vision undergoes significant changes as we age, requiring more light and better quality illumination to prevent falls, maintain independence, and support mental health.

In this podcast, we will discuss the following and more:

• Aging eyes need up to three times more light than younger adults due to physiological changes
• Poor lighting increases fall risk by 1.5 times for seniors and can lead to serious injuries
• Proper lighting affects mood and mental health by regulating circadian rhythms and boosting serotonin

For more tips and resources, visit aginginplacedirectory.com.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Aging in Place Directory Podcast.
I'm your host, robin Schiltz,and today we're shining a light
quite literally on a topic thatimpacts every senior's
independence, comfort and safety, and that is how lighting
affects vision and safety forseniors.
Whether you're a senioryourself, a caregiver or a
family member, this episode willilluminate why the right

(00:26):
lighting isn't just a designchoice.
It's a crucial factor forhealth, happiness and well-being
.
So let's start with the basics.
As we age, our eyes change.
The muscles that control ourpupils weaken, making it harder
to adapt from bright to darkspaces and vice versa.
The pupil itself gets smaller,letting in less light.

(00:48):
This means older adults needhigher levels of light just to
see as clearly as they did whenthey were younger.
But it's not just about needingmore light.
The quality of light matterstoo.
Poor lighting can lead to eyestrain, headaches and even
worsen conditions like cataractsand glaucoma.

(01:08):
It can make everyday tasks likereading, cooking and walking
around the home more difficultand less enjoyable.
Imagine trying to read yourfavorite book or thread a needle
in a dimly lit room.
For seniors, inadequatelighting can turn simple
pleasures and daily activitiesinto frustrating, even risky

(01:29):
challenges Presbyopia or theloss of the eye's ability to
focus on nearby objects iscommon with age, and poor
lighting only compounds theproblem.
But the impact goes beyondvision.
Insufficient lighting can leadto an increased risk of falls,

(01:49):
because shadows and dark cornerscan hide obstacles and glare
can make it hard to see hazardslike steps or uneven flooring.
It can also lead to reducedindependence, because seniors
may avoid certain activities orcertain areas of their home if
they don't feel confident movingaround safely.
And insufficient lighting canalso lead to effects with mood

(02:13):
and mental health.
Poor lighting can contribute todepression, anxiety and
disrupted sleep cycles byaffecting the body's circadian
rhythm.
The science of light whatchanges with age?
Well, let's get a bit technicalfor a moment.
Here's what happens to our eyesas we age.
Less light reaches the retina,the lens becomes denser and

(02:37):
yellower, filtering out morelight and making it harder to
distinguish colors and contrasts.
There's increased glaresensitivity.
Older eyes scatter light more,making glare from shiny surfaces
or bare bulbs a bigger problem,and there's slower adaptation.
Moving from a bright room to adim room or vice versa takes

(03:01):
longer, increasing the risk oftripping or bumping into things.
Falls are a leading cause ofinjury among seniors, and poor
lighting is a major contributor.
In fact, studies show thatolder adults living in poorly
lit environments are one and ahalf times more likely to
experience a fall-relatedaccident.
Unlike younger people, seniorsare more likely to suffer

(03:25):
serious consequences as well.
Think about broken bones,hospital stays and loss of
independence.
Key areas to focus on arestairs and hallways.
These should be well lit at alltimes, with no dark patches or
sudden changes in brightness.
Bathrooms Nighttime trips tothe bathroom are a major fall

(03:47):
risk.
Soft amber nightlights canprovide enough visibility
without disrupting sleep, andkitchens and workspaces.
Good task.
Lighting is essential forsafety when preparing food and
handling sharp objects, but thelight should be evenly
distributed to avoid harshshadows.

(04:09):
The mood connection, lightingand mental health Lighting
doesn't just help us see.
It also affects how we feel.
Natural light boosts serotonin,improving mood and overall
well-being.
On the flip side, poor lightingcan lead to feelings of
depression, anxiety and evenagitation, especially in seniors

(04:30):
with dementia.
Proper lighting also helpsregulate the body's circadian
rhythm, our internal clock thattells us when to sleep and wake.
Disrupted circadian rhythms cancause insomnia, fatigue and
mood swings.
Studies have shown that usinglighting systems that mimic
natural daylight during the dayand reduce blue light at night

(04:53):
can significantly improve sleepquality and reduce agitation in
seniors, particularly those withdementia.
So what does good lightingactually look like in a senior's
home?
Well, here are the essentials.
Brightness seniors need morelight, sometimes up to three

(05:13):
times as much light, as youngeradults.
Color temperature lights in the5000K to 6500K range think
bright, white daylight aregenerally best for visibility
and mood.
Minimal glare Use diffusedlight sources, lampshades or
indirect lighting to reduceglare, which can be disorienting

(05:35):
and uncomfortable.
Adjustability Dimmable lightsand adjustable lamps let seniors
tailor the lighting to theirneeds for different activities
and times of the day.
And energy efficiency.
Led lights are ideal.
They're bright, cool to thetouch and cost-effective.
So let's go, room by room,through a typical home and see

(05:59):
how lighting can be optimizedfor safety and comfort.
In the living room, use acombination of overhead lighting
and floor or table lamps tocreate layers of light.
Avoid dark corners and uselight-colored lampshades to
diffuse light evenly.
Place reading lamps next tofavorite chairs or sofas.
In the kitchen, install bright,shadow-free lighting over

(06:23):
countertops and the stove.
Under-cabinet lights can helpilluminate work surfaces and
make sure the light switches areeasy to reach and clearly
labeled.
In hallways and staircases, usebright, even lighting to
eliminate shadows and highlightsteps and consider motion sensor
lights for added convenienceand safety.

(06:44):
At night In the bathroom, softambient lighting is key to
reducing shadows and glare.
Night lights can help toprevent accidents during
nighttime visits to the bathroomand vanity lighting should be
bright and even helping withgrooming and self-care In the
bedroom.
Place lamps within easy reachof the bed for nighttime reading

(07:08):
or trips to the bathroom, anduse night lights or low-level
lighting to guide the waywithout disturbing the sleep.
How about specialconsiderations for those with
dementia and low vision?
While seniors with dementia andsignificant vision loss have
unique lighting needs, you wantto reduce shadows, because

(07:30):
shadows can be confusing orfrightening, especially for
those with dementia.
Even indirect lighting can help.
Facial recognition Goodlighting on faces helps with
recognition and reducesagitation in memory care.
Settings and color contrast Usecontrasting colors for walls

(07:51):
and floors and furniture to helpthose with low vision navigate
more easily.
You also might consider using acontrasting toilet seat in the
bathroom, because that way asenior can see the toilet, and
if you have someone who hasdementia or low vision in your
home, it'll make it a lot morelikely that they'll be able to

(08:14):
actually use the commodecorrectly.
Common lighting mistakes toavoid include relying on a
single overhead light.
This creates harsh shadows anduneven illumination.
This creates harsh shadows anduneven illumination Using bulbs
that are too dim or too yellow,because they can make it hard to
see clearly and may worsen moodor sleep issues.

(08:34):
Ignoring glare, bare bulbs andshiny floors and glossy
countertops can create blindingreflections and neglecting
maintenance, so burned out bulbsand broken fixtures can quickly
turn a safe space into a hazard.
Here's some easy upgrades for asafer, brighter home.

(08:55):
You really don't have torenovate your whole house to
improve your lighting.
These are simple,cost-effective fixes.
Swap out old bulbs for brighterdaylight-spectrum LEDs.
Add plug-in nightlights inhallways, bathrooms and bedrooms
.
Use stick-on battery-poweredlights in closets or under

(09:16):
cabinets.
Rearrange lamps and furnitureto eliminate dark spots and
improve visibility, and installmotion sensor lights for
hands-free illumination at night.
And install motion sensorlights for hands-free
illumination at night.
Ultimately, good lighting isabout more than just seeing.
It's about living.
It empowers seniors to stayactive, engaged and independent,

(09:38):
reducing the risk of accidentsand improving an overall quality
of life.
Family members and caregiverscan rest easier knowing their
loved ones are in a well-lit,safe environment.
So, to recap, aging eyes needmore and better quality light to
see clearly and stay safe.
Poor lighting increases therisk of falls, eye strain,

(10:01):
headaches and even mental healthchallenges.
Health challenges and the rightlighting, which is bright, even
glare-free and adjustable,makes daily life easier, safer
and more enjoyable for seniors.
So if you or a loved one islooking to age in place, don't
overlook the power of goodlighting.
Sometimes the simplest changes,like swapping out a bulb or

(10:24):
adding a lamp, can make thebiggest difference.
So thank you for joining me onthis enlightening journey.
If you found this episodehelpful, please share it with
friends, family or anyoneinterested in making their home
safer and more comfortable for asenior.
For more tips and resources,visit aginginplacedirectorycom.
Until next time, keep shiningbright and take care.

(10:48):
Thanks, bye.