Almost universally in this country we see nursing homes as a place where people are strapped to wheelchairs in corridors looking half-comatose, says Roger Landry, MD, MPH, an expert on aging and a consultant on the development of senior facilities. He believes the biggest challenge to incorporating more progressive design elements into senior living environments is overcoming our own biases. Shiny floors, whether or not they are slick, appear to be. And when older people see them, they will sit down and not go on walking any more. Gerontologists have found that lack of exercise and poor vision are the two biggest contributors to falls among elderly people.
Design experts contend appropriate lighting is essential to help prevent falls.
High levels of indirect light, Brawley says, are critical to maximizing the vision of seniors. Everybody's on a budget, and if you can only make one or two changes, lighting can give you the biggest bang for your buck. But it really makes sense to work with somebody that understands lighting and understands aging. You can spend an immense amount of money and come out no better. You're just not likely to figure it out on your own.