professional
portfolios
 Home Lighting:
Rene Cardello Snyder
Cardello Lighting
and Electric Supply Co., Inc., 2520 Washington Road, Canonsburg,
PA 15317. Phone: 724-745-1541 Fax 724-745-2774
Seeing
the Light
We may get wiser as
we get older, but we also have a harder time “seeing the light”
… literally. At age 40, most people need twice as much light
to see as well as they did when they were 20. As we age, our
corneas begin to develop layers like an onion. These layers
absorb more of the light coming into our eyes, so less light
reaches the retina and its light receptors. Also, the lenses in
our eyes develop tiny fissures that tend to capture more blue
light, so what gets through to the retina is more light waves in
the yellow spectrum. The net result is that as people get older,
they receive less light from their environment.
Fortunately, there
is a wide range of design-friendly options to satisfy the needs
of aging eyes. You don’t have to completely remodel your house
to see well. Lighting solutions can be tailored to fit your
unique lighting issues, budget and the structure of your house.
Kitchens, bedrooms
and bathrooms are areas where people generally want more light.
Under cabinet lights in the kitchen put light right where we
need it when performing tasks. Fluorescent, xenon, or halogen
fixtures hidden under cabinets direct high-quality light onto
countertops. Recessed lights overhead, just in front of the
cabinets, allow the maximum light to fall on your work area, as
well as inside the cabinets when the door is open.
Recessed lighting
can be effective anywhere more light is needed. But be careful
to select a fixture where the bulb is installed well above the
ceiling to eliminate glare. Glare is a serious issue for older
eyes.
In bathrooms, the
optimal placement of lights is on either side of the mirror.
This prevents shadowing created from the nose, forehead or
checks. Consider installing a dimmer on bathroom lights. Low
level light, or light in the red spectrum, maximizes night
vision while minimizing the disruption of our circadian rhythm.
Using portable lamps
when remodeling is not practical. Fortunately, many portable
lighting options are available. For example, consider a touchier
that bounces light off the ceiling to create a glare-free
environment. Or a floor lamp with a movable arm might be more to
your taste. Even add an extra table lamp to ensure even lighting
in the room to prevent eyestrain.
In the bedroom, a
headboard with built-in reading lights and controls can be
installed, in which case light can be directed to shine directly
on the reader and not on the sleeping partner. Further, if the
reader falls asleep with the light on, the partner can turn off
the light without climbing out of bed.
Take control with
technology. Decreasing dexterity can also affect how well an
aging person is able to use the lights in their home. When
choosing lighting controls, be sure to choose something that
provides increased flexibility and safety. Infrared remote
controls simplify the task of turning lights on or off. Timers
ensure you will never enter a dark house. Sensors that turn on
lights when motion is detected can light your nighttime route
from the bedroom to the bathroom.
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