Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a light bulb over 60 watts anymore? It tickled me when I heard a fellow shopper expressed the same sentiments the other day (sometimes I feel that I rant alone). Well lit rooms seem to be out of vogue or else energy efficiency is more important than being able to see.
Being able to see is important. Losing the ability to see well is a huge threat to independent living. Older people need more light. I get very frustrated when I stay in a vacation rental or visit people who think those bulbs with 60 watts or less are a good thing. Doesn’t anybody read anymore?
Everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, reading or even being able to tell if you have spots on your tee shirt are difficult without adequate lighting. Age related changes, whether due to cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma or just plain aging eyes mean decreased visual acuity.
Older people freely admit that they need more light to perform the same activities that they used to do with ease, but few people are consciously aware that bad lighting is threatening their well being. Appropriate lighting is known to prevent falls, depression, sleep disorders and loss of independence.
Many people don’t know how to buy good lighting products or how to adjust the lighting in their homes for maximum efficiency. When the light level is increased and glare is avoided, older adults can see better:
- They are better able to function on their own
- They can work on projects that they thought they had to give up
- They experience greater self confidence
Adequate lighting throughout the house is important. Older people need higher light levels, even illumination, elimination of glare and task lighting to facilitate independent living. Keep in mind these simple tenets:
- Glare is bad
- Older adults need more light
After much searching I discovered that three-way light bulbs still come in 50-100-150 increments and a few 100 watt bulbs are still on the shelves (if you look hard enough) but guess what, they are really expensive. It might be just me but I would love to hear what others are doing to enhance lighting in their rooms.
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