Hogere lichtniveaus maar alleen waar nodig is. Geautomatiseerde verlichtingsbesturing wordt onmisbaar voor ouderen

Licht is essentieel voor het welzijn en de gezondheid van mensen. Niet alleen onze biologische klok blijft in een goed ritme tikken, ook voor onze dagelijkse handelingen hebben we licht nodig. Dat geldt voor jonge vitale mensen, maar nog sterker voor ouderen. Ben je eenmaal boven de 50 jaar, of word je ziek, dan is het belang van goed licht nog groter. “Daarom zullen we in woningen voor ouderen en zorginstellingen veel nadrukkelijker moeten kijken of de gebruikte verlichtingstechniek wel in orde is. Maar dan wel op basis van zorgvuldig onderzochte praktijkcases”, zegt Nancy Westerlaken, onderzoeker bij TNO

Licht en gezondheid bij senioren

Dat licht nodig is voor visuele waarnemingen is algemeen bekend. Ook is al langere tijd bekend dat licht of juist het ontbreken daarvan negatieve invloed heeft op onze fysieke gesteldheid, denk bijvoorbeeld aan het omzetten van vitamine D middels licht op de huid en het onderdrukken van winterdepressies middels lichttherapie. Door de ontdekking van een derde fotoreceptor in het oog die in directe verbinding staat met onze biologische klok kan de invloed van licht op andere lichaamsprocessen worden verklaard. Deze nieuwe inzichten zouden aanleiding moeten geven voor een andere manier van bouwen. Bij de unit BPS aan de TU/e en bij TNO Bouw en Ondergrond wordt zowel applicatie gericht onderzoek verricht naar de invloed van licht in een kantooromgeving als ook naar de invloed van licht op senioren. In dit artikel wordt nader ingegaan op de mogelijke gezondheidsverbetering door middel van licht bij senioren. Geconcludeerd kan worden dat de gemeten lichtniveaus onvoldoende zijn afgestemd op het verouderde oog. De resultaten van de hieronder behandelde onderzoeken geven voldoende aanleiding om te veronderstellen dat de visuele en de niet-visuele aspecten van licht verbeterd kunnen worden om ertoe bij te dragen dat senioren langer zelfstandig kunnen blijven wonen

Licht en gezondheid bij senioren

Dat licht nodig is voor visuele waarnemingen is algemeen bekend. Ook is al langere tijd bekend dat licht of juist het ontbreken daarvan negatieve invloed heeft op onze fysieke gesteldheid, denk bijvoorbeeld aan het omzetten van vitamine D middels licht op de huid en het onderdrukken van winterdepressies middels lichttherapie. Door de ontdekking van een derde fotoreceptor in het oog die in directe verbinding staat met onze biologische klok kan de invloed van licht op andere lichaamsprocessen worden verklaard. Deze nieuwe inzichten zouden aanleiding moeten geven voor een andere manier van bouwen. Bij de unit BPS aan de TU/e en bij TNO Bouw en Ondergrond wordt zowel applicatie gericht onderzoek verricht naar de invloed van licht in een kantooromgeving als ook naar de invloed van licht op senioren. In dit artikel wordt nader ingegaan op de mogelijke gezondheidsverbetering door middel van licht bij senioren. Geconcludeerd kan worden dat de gemeten lichtniveaus onvoldoende zijn afgestemd op het verouderde oog. De resultaten van de hieronder behandelde onderzoeken geven voldoende aanleiding om te veronderstellen dat de visuele en de niet-visuele aspecten van licht verbeterd kunnen worden om ertoe bij te dragen dat senioren langer zelfstandig kunnen blijven wonen

Field study of visual and biological light conditions of independently-living elderly people

A field study was carried out to learn more about the influence of light on the lives of elderly people . The results should lead to the development and design of a light concept for elderly people that will improve their everyday health and well-being. Methods: Ninetyone independently-living elderly people were questioned about their current living conditions and the possible influence of light; both the visual and the non-visual effects were considered. Daylight and artificial illuminance measurements were taken in the participants ’ living rooms at the position where they performed specific visual tasks. For the non-visual influence, vertical illuminances were measured at the position where the people spent most of their time. Results: Lighting measurements performed in the living rooms revealed levels that were too low for adequate vision and for biological stimulation. Even under daylight conditions, the lighting levels were below recommended values. Discussion: Although we would expect the elderly participants to be aware of the positive effect of light on performing visual tasks, the results do not support this; the illuminance levels were sufficient for ‘normal’ eyes but, unfortunately, not for older eyes. Surprisingly, 85% of the participants were satisfied with their lighting conditions, even though 25% actually had impaired visual acuity. Further research should show whether this impairment could be avoided by adjusted glasses to compensate for the de teriorating eye sight of the aging eye. We expected different levels of biologically-active light stimulation to reveal differences in sleep-wake patterns and sleep quality. The results show no significant effects in this area. Further research is needed to determine the precise protocol necessary to produce a biological effect via the older eye in terms of illuminance levels, wavelength, and the time of day and duration of the stimulus

Field study of visual and biological light conditions of independently-living elderly people

A field study was carried out to learn more about the influence of light on the lives of elderly people . The results should lead to the development and design of a light concept for elderly people that will improve their everyday health and well-being. Methods: Ninetyone independently-living elderly people were questioned about their current living conditions and the possible influence of light; both the visual and the non-visual effects were considered. Daylight and artificial illuminance measurements were taken in the participants ’ living rooms at the position where they performed specific visual tasks. For the non-visual influence, vertical illuminances were measured at the position where the people spent most of their time. Results: Lighting measurements performed in the living rooms revealed levels that were too low for adequate vision and for biological stimulation. Even under daylight conditions, the lighting levels were below recommended values. Discussion: Although we would expect the elderly participants to be aware of the positive effect of light on performing visual tasks, the results do not support this; the illuminance levels were sufficient for ‘normal’ eyes but, unfortunately, not for older eyes. Surprisingly, 85% of the participants were satisfied with their lighting conditions, even though 25% actually had impaired visual acuity. Further research should show whether this impairment could be avoided by adjusted glasses to compensate for the de teriorating eye sight of the aging eye. We expected different levels of biologically-active light stimulation to reveal differences in sleep-wake patterns and sleep quality. The results show no significant effects in this area. Further research is needed to determine the precise protocol necessary to produce a biological effect via the older eye in terms of illuminance levels, wavelength, and the time of day and duration of the stimulus

Light therapy : methodological issues from an engineering perspective

Light therapy is increasingly administered and studied as a non-pharmacologic treatment for a variety of healthrelated problems, including treatment of people with dementia. Light therapy comes in a variety of ways, ranging from being exposed to daylight, to being exposed to light emitted by light boxes and ambient bright light. Light therapy is an area in medicine where medical sciences meet the realms of physics, engineering and technology. Therefore, it is paramount that attention is paid in the methodology of studies to the technical aspects in their full breadth. This paper provides an extensive introduction for non-technical researchers on how to describe and adjust their methodology when involved in lighting therapy research. A specific focus in this manuscript is on ambient bright light, as it is an emerging field within the domain of light therapy. The paper deals with how to (i) describe the lighting equipment, (ii) describe the light measurements, (iii) describe the building and interaction with daylight. Moreover, attention is paid to the uncertainty in standards and guidelines regarding light and lighting for older adults

Light therapy : methodological issues from an engineering perspective

Light therapy is increasingly administered and studied as a non-pharmacologic treatment for a variety of healthrelated problems, including treatment of people with dementia. Light therapy comes in a variety of ways, ranging from being exposed to daylight, to being exposed to light emitted by light boxes and ambient bright light. Light therapy is an area in medicine where medical sciences meet the realms of physics, engineering and technology. Therefore, it is paramount that attention is paid in the methodology of studies to the technical aspects in their full breadth. This paper provides an extensive introduction for non-technical researchers on how to describe and adjust their methodology when involved in lighting therapy research. A specific focus in this manuscript is on ambient bright light, as it is an emerging field within the domain of light therapy. The paper deals with how to (i) describe the lighting equipment, (ii) describe the light measurements, (iii) describe the building and interaction with daylight. Moreover, attention is paid to the uncertainty in standards and guidelines regarding light and lighting for older adults

Light therapy in smart healthcare facilities for older adults : an overview

Light therapy is applied as treatment for a variety of problems related to health and ageing, including dementia. Light therapy is administered via light boxes, light showers, and ambient bright light using ceiling-mounted luminaires. Long-term care facilities are currently installing dynamic lighting systems with the aim to improve the well-being of residents with dementia and to decrease behavioural symptoms. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the application of ceiling-mounted dynamic lighting systems as a part of intelligent home automation systems found in healthcare facilities. Examples of such systems are provided and their implementation in practice is discussed. The available, though limited, knowledge has not yet been converted into widespread implementable lighting solutions, and the solutions available are often technologically unsophisticated and poorly evaluated from the perspective of end-users. New validated approaches to the design and application of ambient bright light are needed