Circadian lighting


their room using a new kinetic light switch that does not need wiring in – generating its own power with each click. This cost-effective retrofit design means


minimal disruption to care routines, and installation can happen in occupied rooms. Stairwells, staff offices and en suites were value-engineered out of the project because residents spend minimal time in these spaces and would not experience a negative impact on their circadian entrainment. The lights themselves were custom


designed by CLS, based on an original concept by lighting designer John Bullock. They use a proprietary chip and phosphor mix to deliver full-spectrum light, tuneable from 2,200K to 6,500K. Every unit was tested and commissioned before arriving at Sycamores, with all 174 fittings operating in the factory for calibration. Two networks, one for bedrooms and


lounges, and another for corridors, form part of a larger site network, remotely monitored and adjusted through a cloud gateway. This system provides flexibility, diagnostics, and the potential for integration with other systems including fire alarms and building management platforms. Each bedroom has two switches: a


resident-controlled wireless switch to simply turn their light on and off, with the system automatically tuning into the right light level and colour for the time of day, and a red emergency switch, which is positioned higher up above the door, for carers to bring the lighting to full brightness if needed at night.


Measuring light levels Previous research into circadian rhythm lighting in care homes has aimed to change the lighting environment without a detailed


The general atmosphere in the home


transformed John Bullock, Ed Russell, Dr Shelley James


investigation into typical lighting across different locations and rooms. For example, a south-facing room will have a drastically different light exposure than a north-facing room. Working with a team led by Professor


Russell Foster at the University of Oxford, WCS has funded a PhD study that has used a novel light sensor to monitor the light environment in care home bedrooms and communal areas across multiple days, providing a detailed assessment of how light levels and quality changes following the installation of circadian lighting. This is the first research study to examine


this in a detailed way, and PhD student Lucy Jobbins’ work will be an important contribution to informing effective circadian interventions for care homes and broader healthcare environments such as hospitals.


Measuring the impact on residents WCS turned to DCM again to evaluate the impact at Sycamores, monitoring residents before and after the installation. The results were striking:


n Daytime sleeping dropped by an average of 58 per cent.


n Interpersonal interaction increased by 470 per cent.


n Mood scores improved by 360 per cent. n Negative mood dropped by over 94 per cent.


Middle and top floor comparison


Residents who had previously spent the day withdrawn and sleepy were suddenly alert, engaging with others, smiling, and making eye contact. One resident had six falls in


30 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com October 2025


the year before installation. In the first five months after, she had none. She stopped banging on doors in the evening, and her mood score rose from 21 per cent to 84 per cent.


Reducing sundowning and distress Sundowning, the agitation and confusion that can occur in the late afternoon and evening, is a common challenge in dementia care. Before the new lighting, WCS saw consistent spikes in negative mood in the late afternoon among residents at the home. After installation, that dropped to zero in that same time window. By extending the sense of daylight into


the early evening and then gently shifting to warm tones, the lighting system helped smooth out this difficult time of day. Residents were calmer, staff felt more connected, and the general atmosphere in the home transformed. And the benefits extended to staff as well.


Staff reported that they were less exhausted and more fulfilled. “I go home proud, not drained,” said one. Others noticed how much more relaxed residents were and how that changed the whole feel of their shift. Incident forms went down. There were fewer arguments, fewer falls, and more human connections. One team member reflected: “The


residents are more themselves and so are we.” From a practical perspective, the


system removes the need for manual adjustments. The lighting adapts to the time of day automatically. There is no training


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