Rayssa G.
—
Verified by
Mary P.
—
Last updated:
September 10, 2024
—
(0)
It may come as a surprise to hear, but 60% of seniors’ falls occur in the home. One of the main reasons for this? You may have guessed it – poor lighting.
Naturally, awareness of your surroundings is at its worst in the darkness, and nighttime falls may have serious consequences. So, strategically illuminating your house is something that can’t be neglected.
Although this is a task that needs to be carefully planned, it isn’t complicated and doesn’t require elaborate resources. The most important step is to evaluate which products are needed the most and where to correctly place them.
Fortunately, as night lights are common commodities, you can easily find excellent options at affordable prices.
Uigos’s plug-in LED light provides a cozy atmosphere at night and is the perfect choice for a bathroom or hallway. Its brightness level can be adjusted to be just enough to illuminate its surroundings without being blinding.
The light has no switches. Instead, it monitors the darkness level of the room, automatically turning on at dusk and off at dawn.
It should also be mentioned that the long-lasting LEDÂ reduces the frequency of bulb changes, sparing older adults from the inconvenience of doing this job regularly.
Ivation’s handy multi-purpose LED light is perfect for senior adults who prefer to have total control of the light in the palm of their hands. The device can be used as a:
Since it has a 9-hour battery life, it’s possible to have the torch by your side throughout the night instead of its charging station. This way, it’s easier to grab it when you need to get up in the middle of the night.
Seniors who are looking for an easy-to-use light should consider this dimmable touch light by Willed, as activating or dimming it can be done with a simple touch.
The lamp can be permanently placed in cabinets, closets, or anywhere in the room with its adhesive iron sheet, but it also has a built-in back magnet that sticks to metal surfaces.
Additionally, the built-in batteries are rechargeable, meaning that seniors won’t need to constantly buy new AAA batteries.
Finally and most importantly, the touch-sensitive light has adjustable brightness levels. The unit slowly increases the glow upon continuous contact and remembers the last setting, even after it’s turned off.
With adjustable brightness, MAZ-TEK’s motion-activated light automatically turns on when motion is detected within the sensor range.
Conveniently, the light turns off after 20 seconds of inactivity, making it the perfect option for those quick bathroom visits in the middle of the night.
To top it all off, the product doesn’t require hard wiring or batteries, as it can be simply plugged into an AC outlet. Also, it’s equipped with four LED light bulbs, so the electric costs per year are extremely low.
Turning on the lights before getting up is a sensible safeguard to avoid a fall. With GE LED light bulbs, the senior can leave the remote control on their nightstand and turn on the light from up to 20 feet away.
The light also offers ten different color settings, including two white temperature colors. So, it’s possible to soften the brightness at night.
Another advantage is that the same remote control can be used with as many light bulbs as you like, so a nighttime visit to the kitchen can be illuminated with just a press of a button.
Having the right type of light source installed in the right places is essential. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting money.
Putting a lamp that must be manually switched on at the far end of the bedroom is pointless, as the elderly resident will still have to navigate through the room in complete darkness to find the switch.
As such, here are some options to consider when it comes to night lighting:
Motion-activated lights are among the most recommended options for seniors. They conveniently light up when someone enters their sensor range, sparing the person from searching for the switch.
However, their hands-free nature can be a downside since people may be startled when the lamps switch on without notice.
In this case, it’s best to look for one that provides adjustable brightness so the change from dark to light isn’t too extreme.
Touch lamps usually sport a round, flat design that provides a large surface for the users to make it easier to activate. Wherever the senior touches the lamp, it will switch on, thanks to the multiple sensors built into the device.
Due to their ease of use, these are highly recommended for Alzheimer’s patients or any senior whose fingers aren’t as nimble as they used to be.
Dementia-friendly nightlights that turn themselves off after a certain period of time are extremely convenient for older adults’ homes.
This is especially true considering that seniors suffering from forgetfulness could amass a significant electricity bill if they leave the lights on accidentally.
Motion-activated lights are known to turn off automatically after a certain period, but many also offer the option to specify the exact timeframe.
If the elderly resident cannot afford to install a series of automatically activating lights that lead from the bed to the bathroom, then the best alternative is a portable torch. Carrying a flashlight grants seniors the freedom to illuminate any area they like.
Just make sure that the batteries are checked frequently so there’s no risk of the torch not functioning when it’s needed the most.
Elderly nocturia is one of the most common reasons senior adults wake up during the night. So, the bathroom lighting must not be neglected. To help with this, motion-activated toilet lights are widely available.
They can be hung on the edge of the toilet seat, so when a senior approaches, these lights are activated in a custom color. Such lamps aren’t just for showing off, though – many seniors avoid turning on the bright ceiling lights because they want to avoid waking up their spouse.
Since toilet lights only illuminate the object and its surroundings, the visitor is still able to navigate safely. Moreover, there’s no need to search for the switch, and the lights turn off after the resident has left its field of detection.
The placement of these night lights requires some strategic thinking, depending on each room.
It should be emphasized that night lights alone can’t safeguard a senior’s well-being. If they’re prone to falling, other preventive measures must be implemented as well.
For example, consider installing grab bars next to the toilet and on the bathtub wall. It’s also wise to place a special bench in the shower or give your loved one slippers or socks with a sticky, gripping sole. If they live in a multi-story house, consider investing in a staircase lift.
Unfortunately, falls cannot be taken out of the equation completely, and all of these solutions just lower the risk of it happening. But when a fall occurs, the elderly person needs to have a way to effortlessly call for help, even if they are lying on the ground.
Medical alert help buttons are very effective at this since they connect the injured person to a monitoring agent who then dispatches the paramedics.
The service is made complete with a fall detection button, which contains refined sensors that detect when the wearer collapses and send an automatic distress signal to the headquarters.
By combining all these measures together, seniors are able to take their nighttime bathroom and kitchen trips with much more security and confidence, allowing them to age in place with comfort and stress free.
Best Reviews may receive compensation for its content through paid collaborations and/or affiliate links. Learn more about how we sustain our work and review products.
©2012-2024 Best Reviews, a clovio brand –
All rights
reserved
Privacy
policy
·
Cookie
policy
·
Terms
of use
·
Partnerships
· Contact
us
