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Age-appropriate lighting
in residents' rooms
As we age, visual performance decreases, accompanied by strongly reduced colour and depth
perception as well as a deteriorated adaptation of the eyes. The spectral lens permeability
decreases due to age-related clouding. The lens diameter also decreases, which means that si-
gnifi cantly less light falls on the retina. 90-year-old patients need about fi ve times the illuminan-
ce of patients in their early thirties. However, these impairments can be noticeably reduced by
the right lighting. DIN/TS 5031-100 includes correction factors for calculating age-appropriate
illuminance which enable older people to achieve the same visual performance as a 32-year-old
reference observer.
The lighting in the resident's room must generally consider the state of elderly people's health.
Compounding declining eyesight are increasing physical limitations. The hospital environment
should be as homelike as possible to encourage elderly patients and residents to remain active.
According to the standard, the minimum requirement for general lighting in residents' rooms
is at least 100 lux. Considering the correction factors according to DIN/TS 5031-100, the
age-appropriate lighting level for a patient over 90 years of age should be above 1000 lux. This
increases safety and orientation, well-being and activation, and demonstrably improved sleep.
A mix of direct and indirect light enhances the homeliness of the resident's room; additional
variety is created by combining ceiling, wall, and table luminaires. This allows residents to
switch the lights on or off individually and creates a feel-good atmosphere. In the mornings and
evenings, one should work with a light colour between 2200 and 3000 K. A cool, activating
light is ideal during the day. The best lighting for the night is very warm white light with a colour
temperature of ≤ 2700 K. Pre-programmed light scenes and dynamic light sequences enable the
lighting to support the human circadian rhythm. Especially for patients who are rarely exposed
to natural daylight due to their condition, a circadian lighting system noticeably improves well-
being and sleep quality.
Requirements
• Create contrasts: illuminate stairs, edges, and uneven-
ness well
• Increased lighting level with warm light colours with a
mixture of direct and indirect lighting
• Pre-programmed light scenes increase comfort for
staff and residents
• Min. 100 – 200 lx illuminance on the fl oor
• Wall lighting should be adjustable
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