Natural Light Keeps Seniors Safe and Healthy

We recently installed two VELUX Solar Fresh Air skylights and VELUX SUN TUNNELS in a residential care home for seniors.

These skylights opened up the space and brought in an abundant amount of natural light.

Care providers, and older adults who live by themselves are now realizing the importance of adequate lighting in their homes.

Abundant Natural Light in your home:
* Insures safety, health and quality of life
* Minimizes the effects of normal eye aging
* Uses less electricity
* Improves the quality of light in a home which  maximizes the abilities and independence of the occupants

One easy and affordable way to improve on lighting is to install a VELUX SUN TUNNEL.

SUN TUNNEL Tubular Skylights are especially great for bathrooms, one of the most notorious rooms for injuries.

The aging eyes of a 60 year old person require up to three times more light for tasks than they did as a
healthy 20 year old, and by the time they reach age 85 they may require as much as five times more light.

Careful consideration should be given to the design of both the day-lighting and electric lighting systems, as well as the materials used within the visual environment of older adults. The best lighting solutions use abundant natural light - daylight,daylight, and more daylight.

Sufficient exposure to bright light during the day and darkness at night naturally regulates your body’s rhythms.In addition, daylight also stimulates the production of serotonin, one of the body’s “feel good” chemicals. One of the most pleasant side effects of serotonin is its ability to cheer people up and feel alert.
It’s like a miracle drug from the sun.

In addition to light for vision, the effects of light on circadian rhythms and vitamin D synthesis are even more important to older people.

The best and most affordable source of the bright light necessary for synchronization of the circadian system is daylight.

Insufficient exposure to sunlight can lead to or contribute to
* Physiological disorders
* Cardiovascular problems
* Immune dysfunction
* Cognitive and functional deterioration,
* Depression
* Vitamin D deficiency and hip fractures

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of falls among people over 65.

Call Naturalight Solar today for your free day-lighting estimate:
707-527-5330

Source: LIGHTING: PARTNER IN QUALITY CARE ENVIRONMENTS
Elizabeth Brawley, AAHID, IIDA, IESNA & Eunice Noell-Waggoner, IESNA, LC

You can read the full published paper at:
http://www.pioneernetwork.net/Data/Documents/BrawleyNoell-WagonerLightingPaper.pdf