Circadian lighting
Dr Shelley James capturing original light levels
Lighting the way: how circadian lighting is transforming care at WCS
Circadian lighting is not just about improving visibility – it is about supporting wellbeing. Jo Cheshire, director of marketing and communications at WCS Care, explores the difference circadian lighting is making for people living with dementia, and how WCS Care is making it a practical reality for homes across the UK
Over the past several years, WCS Care – a not-for-profit charity that operates 13 care homes across Warwickshire – has worked with a group of expert partners to develop a retrofit solution that brings the benefits of circadian lighting into older care homes without the need for expensive rewiring or major disruption. Research has shown that the majority of
care home residents spend very little time outdoors – in most cases getting outside as little as once a month. This is often due to locked doors, staffing pressures, or practical concerns like weather and clothing. Further, 1 in 15 people in the UK suffer
from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which, because we live in the northern hemisphere, tends to impact people between September and April, and 1 in 5 people with
Alzheimer’s get sundowning syndrome – sometimes called late-day confusion, but it can also happen to older people who do not have dementia. Sundowning, SAD, and lack of sleep
can lead to depression, overeating, poor concentration, lack of energy, a poor immune system, poor mobility, memory problems, difficulty in communicating, confusion, disorientation, outbursts or abusive language, increased sensitivity to pain, decreased empathy, loss of spatial perception, loss of time/day orientation, changes in mood, feeling anxious and panic attacks, irritability, restlessness and visual hallucinations. These are all similar to symptoms of
dementia. Exposure to natural light for as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day, can help to reduce or
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com October 2025
stop these symptoms. WCS aims for 90 minutes of outdoor
time per week per resident, and is currently hitting around 69 minutes for 60 per cent of residents. It is progress, but there is still work to do. That is why circadian lighting is so important. Rather than replacing time outdoors, it helps fill the gap. And the impact goes beyond mood. WCS has seen improved physical health, reduced use of bowel medication, and even residents wearing out their shoes – something that was unheard of before.
What is circadian lighting? Our bodies run on a 24-hour internal clock – our circadian rhythm – that tells us when to wake up, eat, and sleep. That rhythm is strongly influenced by light. Cool, white
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