TIPS FOR MAKING LIGHTING MORE SUITABLE FOR OLDER ADULTS

Older patients in healthcare facilities deserve the right medical care and lighting in wards is just one aspect of complete patient healthcare. How can hospitals and healthcare centers provide effective lighting for older patients so that they may not be disturbed, or face difficulty in finding their way? There are many considerations to take into account when installing light bulbs in a facility with older patients, and it is possible with the right medical bulbs. Here are some techniques you can try:

Increase the Level of Light

Older people have difficulty in seeing or reading in light that is comfortable to younger eyes. For their ease of reading, make sure light levels are increased to at least two or three times more than those used for other patients. You can also use adjustable task lights to help increase the level of light in specific areas. To increase inter-reflected light in the environment you can also use diffuse and light color finish on the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Avoid or Minimize Glare

With the increase in light level, which helps older patients to see better, it is also important that steps are taken to ensure that the glare is minimized. Glare may be experienced when vision is impaired due to a bright source of light. To ensure minimum glare, bulbs within sight can be shielded with opaque covers or translucent shades. For any glare experienced from the windows, opaque blinds, curtains, or shades can be used. If light bulbs cause glare by reflecting on a shiny surface, it can be avoided by using matte surface or changing the position of the light source if possible.

Balance the Level of Light

When you elevate the light levels to facilitate older patients, it should also be kept in mind that lights in the other places such as corridors and entrance foyers should be balanced accordingly. As older patients move within different areas of the vicinity, they should not experience distress due to fluctuating light levels which may also hurt their eyes. You can create this balance of light by using intermediate light levels in transitional places, which will effectively allow moving from bright lit areas to dim lit areas.

Increase the Light Contrast

With age, the sensitivity to contrast is reduced which makes it difficult to see ramps, doorways, or edges of stairs clearly. For this reason, the visibility of important objects can be made clearer for older patients by increasing contrast. Contrast can be increased with paint or using other techniques. For example, you can paint the doorway with a dark color to contrast it with white walls, enabling greater visibility.

Conclusion

For every medical facility, it is important to provide complete healthcare to its patients, especially the elderly, for which installing the right medical light bulbs is important.

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www.medbulbs.com