Lighting for Health and Wellness

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially declared sleep deprivation as a national health crisis, we know that the right light at the right time can help you get a great night’s rest, resulting in increased healing, improved moods, sharpened focus, and much more.

In this series of 9 videos, Professor of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Directory of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) Dr. Mariana Figueiro, gives a brief overview of human circadian rhythms - explaining their importance and the need for staying entrained with lighting.

Sleep problems are all too common among older adults, especially those in long-term care facilities, and may contribute to depression, weight gain and, according to recent research, the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, healthy, high-quality sleep improves overall health and well-being.

Light – and more specifically, light’s color temperature – has a powerful and direct impact on our mood, productivity and sleep. Simply put, it influences nearly every element of our lives.

While supporting patient health has always been the primary, albeit obvious, goal within a hospital setting, supporting the patient experience is a goal that is quickly coming into focus for healthcare facilities.

Tired, unfocused and lacking discipline: These are all negative marks students may see on a report card. But what if it’s the school’s design – and not the individual – that is to blame for triggering these behavioral traits?

There are an increasing number of architects, designers and facility managers that utilize research-driven design, recognizing that the physical environment of a space can have a measurable influence on the well-being of its occupants, especially in a long-term care setting.

Lighting is a significant factor in creating an efficient, safe and comforting healthcare environment, and through evidence-based design, lighting specifiers are able to make design interpretations based on reliable research that not only contribute to the building’s décor, but also its bottom line, as well as the health and safety of patients and caregivers, all without sacrificing the quality of light.