(ARA) – We may get wiser as we get older, but we also have a harder time “seeing
the light” – literally. At age 60, most people need four times more light to
see as well as they did when they were 20. Fortunately, the lighting industry
offers a wide range of design-friendly options to satisfy the needs of senior
eyes.
“As we age, our corneas begin to develop layers like an onion,” says Dan
Blitzer, a continuing educator for the American Lighting Association. “These
layers absorb more of the light coming into our eyes, so less light reaches the
retina and its light receptors. Also, the lenses in our eyes develop tiny
fissures that tend to capture more blue light, so what gets through to the
retina is more light waves in the yellow spectrum. The net result is that as
people get older, they get less light from their environment.”
The experts agree that replacing all your 60 watt bulbs with 100 watt bulbs
probably won’t solve the problem, and could even be a safety concern if you put
a 100 watt bulb in a fixture not rated for it.
You don’t have to completely remodel your house to see well. Lighting solutions
can be tailored to fit your unique lighting issues, budget and structure of
your house. ALA experts Blitzer and Monty Gilbertson, a certified lighting
consultant with Lighting Designs by Wettstein’s, offer the following tips on
lighting your home for the aging eye:
Lighting Your Kitchen, Bed and Bath
Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms are areas where people generally want more
light as they get older, Blitzer says. For kitchens, Gilbertson suggests under
cabinet lights. These can be as simple as fluorescent tubes hidden under the
cabinets to direct the maximum amount of high-quality light down onto the
countertops where you will be preparing meals. This solution requires minimal
construction.
In the bath, avoid fluorescents, Gilbertson advises. Instead, opt for 100
percent color rendering light bulbs, positioned on either side of your bathroom
mirror. Consider installing a dimmer on bathroom lights. Research shows that
very low-level regular light, or light in the red spectrum, maximizes night
vision while minimizing the disruption of our circadian rhythm, Blitzer says.
Use Track and Recessed Lighting
Another option for your kitchen is to install recessed lights overhead, just in
front of the cabinets. This allows the maximum light to fall on both your work
area, as well as inside the cabinets when the door is open, Gilbertson notes.
Recessed lighting can be effective anywhere in the house that you require more
light. But, cautions Blitzer, be sure the face of the bulb is installed well
above the ceiling to eliminate glare. “Glare is a serious issue for older
eyes,” he notes.
Track lighting is also a good solution for putting light exactly where you need
it most. Modern track lighting is available in a wide range of design-friendly
styles, including flexible tracks and beautiful pendant lights.
Use Portables when Remodeling is not Practical
Not everyone is able or willing to completely remodel their home. Fortunately,
many portable lighting options are available. For example, if you like to read
in your favorite easychair in front of the fire, consider a torchiere that
bounces light off the ceiling to create a glare-free environment. Or a floor
lamp with a movable arm might be more to your taste. Hobbyists can clamp a
portable light right onto their work table, Gilbertson suggests.
In the bedroom, installing a headboard with built-in reading lights is less
costly than a remodel, yet more flexible than a simple lamp on your bedside
table. Blitzer points out that the light (and its controls) can be installed in
the center of the headboard, so that the light shines directly on the reader
and not on the sleeping partner. Further, if the reader falls asleep with the
light on, the partner can turn off the light without climbing out of bed.
Take Control with Technology
Decreasing dexterity can also affect how well an aging person is able to use the
lights in their home, Blitzer says. When choosing lighting controls, be sure to
choose something that provides increased flexibility and safety.
Infrared remote controls simplify the task of turning lights on or off. Timers
ensure you will never enter a dark house. Sensors that turn on lights when
motion is detected can light your night-time route from the bedroom to the
bathroom. “No one need be intimidated by this technology,” Blitzer says.
“Modern lighting controls are easier to use than your VCR or cell phone!”
For more information about lighting for the aging eye, visit
www.americanlightingassoc.com to find a certified lighting consultant near you.