Brighter days, calmer nights: how good light supports people living with dementia
- Good Light Group
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Good light changes lives. A peer-reviewed study “Biodynamic lighting effects on the sleep pattern of people with dementia” reports that good light, either daylight or light that compensates for a lack of daylight, has a substantially positive influence on people with dementia. The results are both humane and practical: better sleep at night, greater alertness by day, and less restlessness overall.
What the research found
Under good light conditions, residents experienced:
Less night-time wandering: average episodes fell from 11 to 5 per night.
More night-time rest: time spent lying quietly in bed increased by 77 minutes on average.
Fewer daytime naps: episodes fell from 16 to 7 per day.
Across two biodynamic lighting conditions (A1, A2) compared with normal lighting (B1, B2), there was a clear decrease in both night-time bed exits and daytime dozing.
How the light was delivered
To achieve a therapeutic dose of light, the programme provided 1,000 lux measured vertically at eye level (120 cm). In practice, this was delivered by positioning three Sparckel luminaires in strategic locations within a larger shared living room with more than 18 residents. The set-up was freestanding and plug-and-play, making it straightforward to apply in real-world care settings.
Why dynamic good light matters
Good light is the right light at the right time. Specialised daylight detectors in the eye connect to the part of the brain that houses the biological clock. This clock regulates daily bodily rhythms like sleep, alertness, mood and digestion. These detectors require bright light during the day and dim light in the evening to keep time accurately. This is especially important for people with dementia, who rely even more on a stable biological clock.
‘We launched a good light pilot in the summer in the living room at Wilhelmina van Sonsbeeck (a nursing home in the Netherlands). During the pilot, we observed that residents slept through the night again, felt fit and active during the day, and were in a better mood; night-time restlessness decreased by about 60%. The extra lighting was appreciated by residents, families and staff alike. The results were astonishing,’
— Engeline Plaggenmarsch, Location Director, IJsselheem
Evidence from everyday care homes
Three students conducted complementary research at Zorgboog Helmond and Liessel, studying 48 residents with dementia in small-scale residential settings. Across three observational sub-studies, they found:
Sleep–wake cycle: a significant decrease in daytime sleepiness, with greater daytime alertness and longer night-time sleep.
Restlessness: a significant decrease in non-aggressive physical behaviours such as general restlessness, repetitive actions and aimless wandering.
Mood: a significant reduction in apathy, reflected in improved motivation and engagement.
Source:
Comments