A novel night lighting system for postural control and stability in seniors

Abstract

Injuries resulting from falls in seniors are a significant health concern. Visual information is important for postural control in seniors and postural control is affected by the light level. Moderate ambient illumination might be effective for postural control, but might compromise subsequent sleep efficiency and quality for seniors. In addition to safety concerns, a night lighting system must also be accepted by seniors. Researchers investigated if a self-luminous, night lighting system that provided horizontal and vertical cues could positively affect postural control in older subjects and evaluated its acceptance among seniors. The results showed that the night lighting system was effective for maintaining postural control in the critical, early phase of the sit-to-stand task and that it was preferred over conventional night lights. © The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers 2008.