Maxine loved to read, but she had almost given up on it. She had been given some large print books, but that didn’t really help. Then her Caregiver moved her favorite chair near the window and removed the screen from that window. What a wonderful gift! She could “see” again! Lighting for seniors matters.
Since hearing noises outside Friday night, Timothy had stayed inside and left his drapes closed. By Wednesday, when our Caregiver arrived, he was feeling “down”. He also seemed confused. The Caregiver assured Timothy everything was normal outside. About an hour into her care shift, Timothy agreed to let her open the drapes. By the time she left, Timothy was feeling better, and the confusion had passed.
Natural light to the rescue!
Daylight’s health benefits are well documented – from reducing irritability and experiencing fewer headaches to improving concentration and your overall mood. So, how can you boost daylight in your home? Open those window blinds and shades! Did you know window screens can block 40% of the light from coming through your windows? If you’re not going to open those windows, take the bug screens out and brighten your day.
Electric lighting is important too!
Sunlight is only one side of the coin. There are also all the home’s light fixtures. Too often, our Caregivers find some of the light bulbs are not working in our clients’ homes. Those bulbs may have failed a while ago but were difficult to reach due to limitations of aging or disability. Sometimes, the Caregiver only needs to screw the bulb in tighter (how do light bulbs “unscrew” anyway?) Other times, it’s a matter of replacing worn out light bulbs. If you don’t have any replacement light bulbs on hand, our Caregivers can help by running to the store on your behalf or taking you shopping.
Is your garage the darkest place in your home? Did you know you can simply replace the bulb hanging from your garage ceiling fixture with an LED bulb that’s up to 10 times brighter? Additionally, many of those bulbs’ LED light panels can be aimed up or down to help eliminate dark corners in your garage. Imagine your garage being 10 times brighter by simply unscrewing one light bulb and screwing in another!
Why focus on lighting for seniors? As we age, our eyes’ lenses yellow and harden, muscles weaken, and our pupils decrease in size – reducing the amount of available light that reaches the retina. Rooms appear darker and less inviting. Everyday chores and even reading become more taxing. Being aware of this, Sunlight Caregivers can help ensure an indoor environment that is light, bright, and airy, helping prevent eyestrain and fatigue as well as improving your overall mood!
