Biodynamic Lighting to Support the Wellbeing of People Living with Dementia in Care Facilities

Exposure to natural daylight has a positive impact on human health and wellbeing. The non-visual effects of daylight stimulate a response in the circadian system which oversees fundamental mechanisms within the human body, such as metabolism, hormone balance and sleep-wake cycles. For people with dementia, the working capacity and regularity of these processes becomes further compromised as their exposure to daylight is reduced, due largely to age-contributing factors such as increased eye sensitivity and reduced mobility. In light of this, artificial lighting has been revolutionised to enable tailored output based on the photobiological demands of humans. This is known as biodynamic lighting which encompasses varying light intensity and spectral composition. Within dementia cohorts, this design concept has not been well studied, making it difficult to optimally administer and quantify related benefits. Fortunately, by building on the recent progression in the fields of machine learning and the internet of things, the potential for simultaneous behaviour monitoring and actuation of lighting intervention technologies is possible, enabling production of a viable biodynamic lighting solution. To this end, the present study provides a review of related work in the field of biodynamic technology designed to improve wellbeing in dementia, and identifies areas where improvements may be made. Following this, a proposed solution for future study designs and technologies is suggested. The proposed solution exists in the prototype stage, with a route to deploying in care facilities in the near future.

I. Introduction

Dementia is associated with reduced cognitive ability which can impact day-to-day routines and activities [1]. It is most prevalent in aging populations in excess of 65 years; a growing demographic due to shifts in western population pyramids and improvements in healthcare [2]. This has contributed to increased life expectancy within recent generations [3]. Consequently, reports estimate that dementia affects around 50 million people globally, and is expected to triple by 2050 [4]. By combining dementia with simultaneous physical, age-induced deterioration in mobility and vision, the capacity for leading a healthy, independent lifestyle can become heavily compromised [5][6]. This may lead to a higher likelihood of admittance to care homes, which increases the burden on the healthcare industry and can lead to a reduction in wellbeing [7].