Falls are not a part of the normal aging process, but chances of falling in a dimly lit home are 2-4 times greater than a home that’s well-lit. The proper amount of lighting for older adults is 2-3 times greater than the amount of lighting for younger adults. Whether you have normal aging vision or a visual impairment, falls can be prevented by improving the quality, quantity and source of your lighting.
LAMPS
Table lamps provide ambulatory lighting and should be 22-30″ tall with fabric shades for glare prevention. Swing arm lamps provide task lighting for detailed work. Up-lights or floor lamps create reflected ceiling light that eliminates dark corners and shadows. Indirect ambient lighting is balanced, even and restful on the eyes.
BULBS
Compact fluorescents (CFLs) are the most popular energy-efficient light bulbs utilizing the same sockets as incandescent bulbs. If your vision is low, consider “full spectrum” CFL bulbs that are truer to natural daylight. If you are sensitive to light, fluorescent bulbs may be stressful on older eyes and visual distortions may occur. LED and halogen lights have a less diffused light and more appropriate spectral band.
BEDROOM
A charged flashlight plugged permanently into the wall near your bed provides safety during emergencies. Lighted switch plates and motion sensor lighting lead you safely from the bedroom to the bathroom. A table lamp with a switch on the base allows easy access from the bed.
BATHROOM
Bathrooms require a great deal of balanced lighting for safety and function. Recessed down lights inside the shower or above the bathtub provide safety while bathing. Motion sensor night lights and light-activated medicine cabinets help prevent falls during the night. Wall sconces with covered bulbs prevent glare from a seated position.
KITCHEN
Kitchens require a consistent level of lighting for safety and efficiency. Multiple windows provide excellent lighting by day, but if left uncovered, windows will darken a room by night. Chances of falling will increase as shadows and dark corners prevail. To maintain a consistent level of lighting from day into night, roll shades on the windows will reflect light back into the room. The same shades will control glare during the day. But not all reflections are equal. Sun glaring off shiny floors and lights reflecting from polished countertops may temporarily disorient older adults and falls may occur.
STAIRS
Stairs are the number one cause of falls in a home and must be evenly lit. 3-way light switches at the top and bottom landings assure available lighting at all times. Wall sconces allow easier exchange of burned out bulbs (never locate light fixtures directly above the stairs). A skylight or solar tube can provide balanced lighting during the day with additional lighting at nighttime.
GLARE / WINDOWS
Aging eyes adapt slowly to sharp changes in light levels, and falls can occur when going from dimly lit rooms to brighter ones. Solar tubes and skylights are good solutions for windowless rooms such as bathrooms and hallways eliminating sharp changes in light levels as you travel through the home. Visual perception is distorted by glare and can result in falls from momentary blindness. Window treatments can reduce glare on shiny floors while lampshades remove bare bulbs from the line of vision.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Glare-free motion sensor lighting should be located at all entries into your home. Recessed porch lights and sky darkening fixtures reduce night sky pollution and soften glare on passing vehicles. A flashing GE Emergency Porch Light directs first responders to your home during times of emergency. This is a normal light fixture that flashes when the light switch is placed in the middle position.
So with this basic information about proper lighting in your home, most solutions are relatively simple and inexpensive. The first step is to review your home and prepare a plan of action (light bulbs and table lamps being the best place to begin); and always remember that falls are not a part of normal aging and they can be avoided.
