Dementia care
is a product that was specified for Springfield Healthcare Group: the Coelux rooflight. These are often used in healthcare settings, and are particularly effective for those living with dementia. The rooflights use nanotechnology to reproduce the natural appearance of the sky, helping with residents’ circadian rhythm and reducing time-related confusion. At the Chocolate Works Care Village
in York, there was a large room that was previously a safe. The room was central to the building and had no means of natural illumination. To transform the space into a multi-purpose meeting room, a Coelux rooflight was installed. When switched on, the room
immediately transformed into a light- filled space. Coelux lights have also been proven to have a soothing influence on individuals who may be distressed or in a state of panic. Since welcoming its first residents, Springfield Healthcare has found that, should a resident become distressed, sitting beneath the projected sunlight accompanied by a carer can have an enormous positive impact, calming the
resident and reducing stress levels. Springfield Healthcare group chief
executive Graeme Lee, who has worked with me over a number of years, says innovation is an integral part of its offering. “Building care environments that offer the very best opportunities for our residents to live full and active lives and where their wellbeing is at the heart of every decision. “Working with a professional
architectural practice which specialises in our sector means that we can offer the very best care both now and in the future. The Coelux light is a superb example of an innovation that has made a real difference to the lives of our residents. Bathing them in warm light when the inclement British weather does not allow!” Advances in LED technology have
similarly led to large-scale circadian rhythm lighting systems, which can support the body’s natural circadian rhythm as it follows the natural sleep/ wake cycles of the human body. The hypothalamus controls an individual’s circadian rhythm - reacting to signals by releasing melatonin to make you sleepy. Electrical lighting can interfere
with this process, which can become disorientating and confusing for those with dementia. Changing light intensity throughout the day and adapting colour temperature can help with this enormously.
Combatting lack of natural sunlight While natural sunlight is of course the best way to achieve the appropriate exposure to light, winter months and bad weather mean that this is not always possible. Providing garden areas that are positioned to accommodate natural light gain is an excellent start, but we are lucky enough to live in a time where lighting technology can also have an enormous impact.
Researchers currently believe that this
can be combated in three different ways, and the majority of these LED systems combine these approaches in order to aid with those struggling with their sleep patterns due to light interference. The first is the intensity of light.
Changing the intensity of the light in a space throughout the day can mimic the natural daylight cycle outside by adjusting brightness during the lightest parts of the day, and automatically changing intensity as the sun begins to set. Adapting the colour of light is also
suggested to have a positive impact. We know that colour ‘temperature’ can have an effect on mental health and sleep patterns, and so correlated colour temperate (CCT) can be implemented. When the sun is at its highest point in the sky, it is at its brightest and coolest colour temperature. At sunrise and sunset, the light outside is much warmer and less intense. So, by adapting the CCT of an artificial light source throughout the day in
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • November 2021
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