Aging with RAZ

Daylight reduces fall risks and may reduce sundowners

With natural aging, the lenses in our eyes thicken. Some may develop cataracts or macular degeneration. We need more light to see. Being able to see obstacles helps our brain improve balance.

Adequate lighting creates enough contrast to see depth in stairs and recognize trip hazards like animal toys or area rugs.

☀️ Sunlight exposure improves:
➡️ Sleep quality.
➡️ Energy levels.
➡️ Physical performance (muscle function).
➡️ Stress and anxiety levels.
➡️ Cognitive function.

Recent studies show that sundowning is not a behavior. It’s a symptom of a broken internal clock sending signals to the brain at the wrong time of day. It’s not your loved one being manipulative. It’s the time of day when their brain is having a hard time. You didn’t cause this, but raising your voice makes it worse.

Their internal clock needs to be exposed to bright light in the morning to help reset their internal clock and their sleep-wake cycle. Every person with brain change is different. This will help some, but not all.

According to multiple studies, exposing our loved one to morning sunlight prior to 10 a.m. for 10 to 30 minutes assists in resetting their internal clock.

The morning sunlight suppresses melatonin, as do devices that emit blue light.

If you live in an area that does not have enough sunlight, such as in winter, light therapy boxes or circadian lighting may work well for a substitute. Do not use daylight lighting or blue light in the evening.

Additionally, your loved one’s daily routine puts less stress on their brain. If possible, consider limiting your loved one’s daytime napping to 30-40 minutes. It encourages sleeping overnight.

When you reduce stimulation, noise, and light as the evening progresses, the brain releases melatonin. Using nightlights with a soft yellow, orange or red hues, a.k.a. warm light, also assists in signaling the brain to release melatonin. For those who can afford it, there are circadian lighting systems that automatically adjust the lighting to match our natural sleep-wake cycle.