By Leigh Ann Hubbard

It started out as a pilot program. In 2017, Lumenant (a Foresight partner) installed circadian lighting in one ALG Senior location that offers memory care — Rose Glen Manor in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

The results were so impressive that ALG Senior is now incorporating circadian lighting into all their memory care locations.

“We saw right away that it was having a positive effect on the mood of our residents and also the staff,” says chief medical officer Kevin O’Neill in a video about the pilot program. Sleep patterns improved, falls declined, behaviors got better, and the community became more homelike — simply through lighting.

Circadian lighting changes color temperature depending on the time of day. It’s bluer in the daytime and warmer at night. This may be especially beneficial for people living with dementia — potentially reducing issues such as night wandering, sundowning, and frailty.

“When we were told how circadian lighting provides a calm atmosphere that helps with sundowning and other adverse memory behaviors, it just made sense to install the lighting in our new communities,” says Sandra Korzeniewski, ALG Senior’s chief development officer. We chatted with her via email about her experiences.

Q: Why are you a fan of circadian lighting?

A: I’m a big fan of circadian. In our industry, it’s about paying attention to the small details — small things can make a big difference. Lighting may be one of those “small things,” but it has a huge impact on our residents’ well-being.

Q: How long have you been involved in senior living? I imagine you’ve seen a lot of technological changes. 

A: I’ve been in senior living for over 30 years, and I find the use of circadian lighting to be a great advancement. The health care field — especially senior living — has seen a host of technological advancements since the beginning of my career. These advancements have helped with the care that we provide residents, and the utilization of circadian lighting is one of those.

Q: Have you noticed any wellness benefits? 

A: Some benefits of circadian lighting are better sleep, less disruptive behaviors, enhanced moods, and more engagements throughout our memory care communities.

Q: Why did ALG Senior choose Lumenant for the lighting upgrades?

A: Lumenant is our trusted partner for circadian — they understand our industry and work with communities to ensure a great experience. They want their partners to find value in their services and want to ensure their technology is useful for every resident.

Q: What has your experience been like with Lumenant?

A: We have experienced nothing but great customer service. They always work with us on a community-by-community basis to ensure they understand the culture of each community and how the lighting will impact each resident. We have also had a seamless installation process with Lumenant.

Q: What other thoughts would you like to share that I haven’t asked about?

A: Our primary focus is the care of our residents. And the opportunity to provide a tranquil enhanced environment with circadian lighting supports our dedication to those we serve.

Want to see the science on circadian lighting? Lumenant has developed a white paper that sums up the latest findings. You can get a copy through the form below.

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