Lighting - some basic information

The value of good lighting can't be understated: it's the foundation of a good environment.

A dementia care setting demands special attention giving to the lighting and failure to do so will significantly diminish the effectiveness of any other improvements made to the environment.

In a nutshell: if you want to create a supportive environment, make sure you have a plan to bring the lighting up to scratch.

"Effective lighting increases residents' confidence, activity levels, supports the ability to perform tasks independently and promotes general well-being."

Natural light is the best of course, but there are limitations on how and where this can be available, and it's certainly not available 24 hours a day! But LED technology is the next best thing....

 

What makes LED's so different from every other light source?

NO HEAT! Well not very much. LED's emit light as a product of a chemical reaction between a combination of materials and relatively little energy input is required for this to take place. Because you don't need heat to create the light, you don't need much energy, hence why LED's are so energy efficient and long-lasting.

What are the benefits to care homes?

LED lamps work best as a flat panel because of the way they look and how they distribute the light.

Here are some of the product benefits:

  • Easy to achieve any required levels of illumination 
  • High levels of reflected light from wall surfaces due to the wide beam angle
  • More light = fewer shadows
  • No dazzle or uncomfortable reflections
  • Instant illumination with no warm-up time  
  • Even lighting around objects and up to skirtings
  • Long life and low failure/replacement rate 
  • Flexibility to add features such as microwave sensors and dimmers
  • Low running costs - typically 60 - 80% savings over alternative light sources
  • Easy to install
  • Reduced fire risk
  • Flexibility to fit them almost anywhere, recessed or surface mounted.

The most important consideration is the benefit this technology affords residents. People with visual issues are able to see things so much better, so any improvement to interior design features will be so much more effective.

Colour contrast is clearer and people can see where they're going. Residents are more mobile when the lighting is good so they can be more independent and confident, all of which contributes to improvements in health and well-being. 

Getting the lighting right:

The type of lamp I'll always recommend is a flat panel, non-directional type. This keeps shadows to a minimum and maximises reflected. There are a wide variety of shapes and sizes readily available, all of which are super-efficient, cost-effective and can be installed virtually anywhere in the home.  

The two key considerations are: providing enough light and choosing the right colour temperature.

1.Colour temperature:  

This is how the colour of LED output is measured and is referred to as 'K' (Kelvin). LED colour specifications are usually bracketed. So in the case of our products you can select lighting at 3000 - 3500K, 4000 - 4500K and 6000 - 6500K. These are also respectively referred to as Warm white, Daylight white and Cool white - paradoxically the highest colour temperature, but this is because of it's blue colour which we instinctively associate with cold. We recommend warm white as a general rule although Daylight white can be a better colour for working area's such as a kitchen.

Many years ago, when we were trialling LED's in a care home, a resident who had dementia made a completely unsolicited remark that it was a 'happy' light. This was because of its daylight qualities, and it clearly made him feel good.

2.The amount of light: 

The 'brightness' of a lamp is measured in Lumens which you can think of as a measure of 'brightness' and can be precisely measured regardless of the type of light source. All our lamps performance is specified in Lumens.

When applying the measurement  of light to an area, ie Lumens/square metre, 1 Lux = 1 Lumen per square meter  However, there are differing opinions about the amount of light one should try to achieve in a care home setting. So although the measurement is very scientific, the recommendations are less so. Some sources quote the required amount simply as 'double', which isn't very helpful, so we've put together a rough guide below which is realistic, achievable, and will meet the needs of a care home environment. Should you have a light metre to hand (which can be bought very cheaply if you want to) and measure the lighting in your home, you'll probably be surprised at how low it is. 

Area Standard recommendation Care home recommended 
Kitchen 200 lux 250 - 300 lux
Bathroom 100 - 150 lux 200 lux minimum
Bedroom 100 lux 200 lux (dimmable)
Corridor 100 lux 200 lux minimum

 

 

If you'd like to discuss your requirements in more detail email enquiries@tchd.co.uk or call 0113 2685018 / 07974 645296