A consortium of six international partners has launched a groundbreaking project that focuses on developing personalized and flexible circadian lighting. The effectiveness of this innovative solution is currently being tested on both residents and staff members at a Danish nursing home.
Five companies from Switzerland, Poland, and Denmark, along with a Danish nursing home, have joined forces to enhance the lighting conditions in European nursing homes. The project, funded by the EU program AAL - Ageing Well in the Digital World, is based on the well-established knowledge that light controls our circadian rhythm and influences our physical and mental well-being.
— The awareness of the impact of light is increasingly spreading. For several years, Chroma Zenit Circadian Lighting has been an integral part of elderly care in Denmark, with promising results in both scientific studies and practice. Now, we aim to further develop the solution so that more seniors and caregivers can benefit from the health-promoting effects that light brings, explains Hans Kirkegaard, project leader at Danish company Chromaviso, the initiator of the project.
The project, named PerCiLight – Personalized and Circadian active dynamic Lighting for institutionalized elderly – emphasizes its adaptability to the individual needs and conditions of elderly people in nursing homes. Its easy installation makes it highly suitable for nursing homes across Europe and serves as an exciting addition to Chromaviso's existing circadian rhythm solution.
Testing on elderly individuals with dementia
Bauneparken nursing home in Hillerød municipality will test the PerCiLight solution in 16 apartments. Last year, the nursing home implemented the current Chroma Zenit Circadian Lighting from Chromaviso in all corridors and common areas – and the nursing home manager is looking forward to being part of the further development.
— We are very pleased with our circadian lighting. It supports a natural sleep-wake cycle with less activity at night and more energy during the day, explains Gitte Ellekilde, nursing home manager at Bauneparken, mentioning an elderly woman who suffered from depression and spent most of her time in her apartment. Today, she seeks out the light in the common areas and participates in social activities, which contributes to improved quality of life.
— Another example is how quickly our night staff fall asleep when they get home compared to before when it could take several hours. Our expectations for PerCiLight are high. By making the lighting more personalized and installing it in apartments where older individuals go to bed, sleep, and wake up, we hope for positive effects on sleep, mood, health, and behaviour, says Gitte Ellekilde.
A digital solution tailored to individual needs
The PerCiLight solution will be user-oriented and tailored to fit the daily routines, workflow, and habits of nursing homes. Both the lighting design, fixture design, and user interface will create a homely and welcoming atmosphere, where the light seamlessly integrates into the environment without causing any disruptions. Furthermore, the project will introduce a new data-driven system aimed at assisting the staff. This solution is built upon the expertise and skills possessed by each partner involved in the project.
"To have the opportunity to apply the latest knowledge in lighting design to the daily lives of residents and staff, creating something beautiful and meaningful with a significant positive impact, is truly remarkable," says Julia Hartmann, Creative Director at Lightsphere, one of the project partners. Danish designer Steffen Schmelling will be responsible for the design development of the fixtures in PerCiLight.
The software and hardware behind the solution will be developed in collaboration between the two Polish companies, Antologic and Grinn, as well as Danish company Chromaviso.
Facts
- The project was initiated on May 1, 2022, and is expected to last for a duration of 2.5 years.
- The total sum of the project amounts to 9 million DKK.
- To access additional information, feel free to explore the attached fact sheet or watch the accompanying video.