Circadian Lighting Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of the sleep environment on sleep patterns of care home residents with Dementia: Good Night, Circadian Lighting Study
IRAS ID
226671
Contact name
Louise Moody
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 16 days
Research summary
An estimated 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia and it is expected that this figure will rise to 1.14 million by 2025 and to exceed 2 million by 2051 (Age UK, 2017). Around one third of people with dementia in the UK live in residential care (Alzheimer’s Society). Sleep problems for people with dementia are not uncommon, and have implications for mood and health. Night time agitation and disturbed sleep is also thought to be related to nutritional deficits, incontinence and advancement of cognitive decline (de Oliveira, 2015). The cyclical nature of the relationship between sleep disturbance and associated behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) makes research more complex, but also more compelling in order to better understand dementia.
Research has shown that light can help correct the rest/activity cycles of people affected by dementia (Hanford and Figueiro, 2013) and it can help with agitation and aggression as well as depression in this group. Circadian lighting mimics changes in natural light to help prevent patients from being confused about the time of day by artificial lighting. The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the implementation of circadian lighting intervention at WCS Care Ltd (a private care home company) and determine the impact on resident sleep. Understanding of the impact of circadian lighting for improving sleep could lead to improvements in quality of life and quality of care for residents and their carers, it is possible that a greater understanding of such a major part of dementia may result in delayed institutionalisation, and cost savings to health authorities.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0294
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion