How to Create a Well-Lit Home for Your Older Loved One

It is a well-known fact that most older adults have a desire to remain in their homes and independent for as long as possible. The question is, is it truly safe?

If you are reading this, it is quite likely that you feel as if your loved one’s home is not as safe as it should be. We commend you for doing the research necessary to help your loved one to ensure that they are as safe as possible.

If you have discovered this article, you are on the right path to creating a safe, productive environment for your loved one. Lighting is a critical component of safety. In this guide, you will learn how to create a well-lit home for your older loved one.

Why is Lighting so Important in a Senior’s Home?

Lighting is a critical component to ensuring fall prevention in the home. By taking the deliberate precaution of creating a well-lit home, you are taking the step needed to prevent falls. Older adults are more susceptible to falls due to age-related losses.

These include loss of strength within the muscles, loss of vision, loss of hearing, loss of flexibility, loss of balance, and impairments in reactions. For individuals over the age of 65, falls are the leading cause of death. One third or more of people in this age group will fall at least once.

Two thirds of those that have fallen once will experience subsequent falls. Out of every 200 falls, at least one person will suffer a fracture of the hip.

One fourth of those that experience this type of hip injury will die within a half a year of experiencing the injury. By lighting up the home, you may very well be saving your loved one from undue pain and premature death.

Lighting Allows Older Adults to be Functional

In order to maintain independence, it is necessary for an adult to be considered “functional”. By creating a well-lit home, older adults may remain in their home because they are able to complete the activities of daily living and care for themselves without experiencing falls.

The first step to creating a well-lit home is to do a thorough inspection of your loved one’s residence. Look for danger spots. These include hallways that are dark, entry areas that are only dimly lit, obstructions, and generally poor-lighted areas.

If your loved one suffers from any type of cognitive decline or memory issues, you will want to take that into consideration, too, when inspecting frequently used rooms, such as restrooms and kitchens.

Start with Motion Sensor Lighting

Once your inspection is finished, you will probably have determined a few problem areas. The most common include hallways, by doors, the kitchen, closets, and the restrooms.

When creating a well-lit area for your loved one, you should start by integrating motion sensor lighting in the home. This is lighting that will turn on automatically when it detects movement.

You should avoid battery operated motion sensor lighting as much as possible and opt for those that can be wired into your loved one’s electrical system. These should be placed in hallways, closets, bathrooms, kitchens, and in outdoor areas – such as near entrances and around walkways.

Your loved one will not have to worry about flipping switches. If they suffer from cognitive decline, this ensures that they always have light – even if they are unable to find the switches for themselves. Automatic Lighting is a highly productive measure that will improve your loved one’s comfort and safety.

Bright Lighting

Despite the concern you may have over energy costs, you should opt for bright lighting throughout the home. No amount of energy costs that bright lighting results in compares to the huge expense of your loved one becoming injured because of their inability to see appropriately.

Regardless of whether you are using standard lighting, motion sensor lighting, or any other type of lighting, the bulbs should be bright. Bright bulbs will help compensate for dark areas in the home and/or vison problems with your loved one.

Light Up the Bedroom

When creating a well-lit home for your senior loved one, it is important to ensure that their bedroom is lit up. There are many creative lighting solutions for this room. Examples include the following:

1. Bed Hand Rail Step with LED Lighting
2. Touch Lamps
3. Motion Activated Bed Lights
4. Under Bed LED Lighting
5. Night Lights
6. Motion Sensor Wall Lighting
7. Over Door Lighting
8. Strip Lighting
9. String LED Lights
10. Clip Lights

Let Us Help You Set Up Your Loved One’s Home

Here at GreenLight Mobility, we specialize in setting up homes for fall prevention in New Jersey. If you want to create a safe environment for your older loved one, we can help you!

We offer many products that will not only help keep your loved one safe, but will also help them maintain their independence.

Examples include stair lifts, ramps, grab bars, stair rails, ceiling lifts, and products that are similar in nature. For more information, feel free to call us today at: (973) 946-8330