Light design to improve activity behaviour
Light design to improve activity behavior of demented elderly in the nursing home
Information
Author: Canton, L.W.P.
Contributor: Birkhoff, R.A., Anderiesen, H.
Faculty: Industrial Design Engineering
Department: Industrial Design
Programme: Master of Science Design for Interaction
Type: Master thesis
Date: 3-2-2012
Keywords: Light design | Elderly | Dementia | Activity | Nursing Home | Behaviour
Abstract
This graduation project was setup as a collaboration between Delft University of Technology faculty of Industrial Design Engineering and Philips Lighting. The project focuses on lighting for demented elderly in a nursing home. Demented elderly suffer from disturbances in information processing in the brain. This causes not only memory deficits and problems in understanding the environment, but also disturbances in the circadian rhythm (also known as sleep-wake rhythm).
Sufficient exposure to daylight can restore the circadian rhythm. However, the aging eye requires higher lighting levels while demented elderly residing in a nursing home often do not receive enough light. Previous studies show that artificial bright light can have a positive influence on residents' circadian rhythms, mood and energy levels during the day. The goal of this project is to design a lighting solution aimed specifically at demented elderly in a nursing home, to increase their level of physical activity during the day. A light table was developed, which brings dynamic bright light more efficiently into the eyes of residents than conventional ceiling mounted solutions. The bright light follows a dynamic pattern with varying intensity and color temperature levels during the day. The light table includes objects that alter the table edge ambient lighting when residents interact with the objects. This will engage residents at the table, hence they will be exposed to beneficial bright light for longer periods of time. The ambient lighting also makes the atmosphere in the room more pleasant, because bright light with a high, ‘cold’ color temperature usually creates an unpleasant atmosphere in a room.
A qualitative user test was done. 15 residents participated in the user test, of which 8 were in the intervention group, receiving light table prototypes and 7 were in a control group, receiving conventional tables with colored tabletops to control for confounding variables. The effects of the light tables on participants were observed and interviews were held among participants and staff.
Early results show positive indications that the light tables have the desired effects on activity and mood of participants. Participants are more awake and communicative while sitting at the tables and staff reported that participants are more at ease and relaxed during dinner. The light tables are accepted well by the participants and they interact with the objects as intended in the concept. Psychology students from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are currently executing empirical research on the exact effects of the prototypes on the physical activity of participants.
