When people hear the word “dementia,” they tend to only associate it with memory loss. While this is a significant symptom of the condition, many people don’t realize the other cognitive and psychological changes that can occur. Additional symptoms can include difficulty communicating, agitation, challenges with coordination and motor function, and more.
Another less commonly known symptom of dementia is its impact on an individual’s sleep patterns. “Sleep disturbance may affect up to 25% of people with mild to moderate dementia and 50% of people with severe dementia. Sleep disturbances tend to get worse as dementia progresses in severity, (mayoclinic.org).”
For a person living with dementia, sleep problems can include excessive sleepiness during the day but difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Waking up frequently throughout the night and waking up early in the morning are also common.
As a dementia care provider serving the Atlanta area, Brickmont Assisted Living aims to provide resources, education, and support to individuals and families dealing with dementia. If you are caring for a parent or loved one living with dementia, we are sharing the benefits of natural light and how natural light can positively impact a person’s life.
What Causes Sleep Disturbances?
It’s common for older adults to experience changes in the quality and duration of their sleep due to changes in the body’s internal clock that occur with age. However, for those living with dementia, sleep disturbances can be attributed to additional factors, including:
- Mental and physical exhaustion from trying to keep up with unfamiliar or confusing environments and experiences.
- Reduced lighting can increase shadows and may cause the person living with the disease to misinterpret what they see and, subsequently, become more agitated.
- Disorientation due to the inability to separate dreams from reality when sleeping.
How Does Natural Light Help?
Artificial light (lamps, fluorescent lights, etc.) can change our environment, especially during evening and night hours. For those living with dementia who may already be experiencing confusion or disorientation, this artificial light can impact their internal clock, making them feel awake when they should feel tired.
Research has found that lighting that mimics natural night-day patterns (or natural light patterns: morning, evening, night) can improve sleep problems for those living with Alzheimer's. For example, one study used lighting designed to stimulate the body's circadian rhythm, or internal clock, to prompt the release of the hormone melatonin in the brain that regulates normal sleep-wake cycles. At the end of the six-month study, the sleep disturbance scores of participants were lowered by about half.
Additional Benefits of Natural Light
Beyond its ability to help minimize sleep disturbances, natural light can positively benefit those with (or without) dementia in other ways.
Boosts Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a critical nutrient that can prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of heart disease and various cancers, and the sun is a natural way to increase your vitamin D intake. Fortunately, you can reap the benefits of sunlight indoors or outdoors! So it’s not just about getting outside often, but about increasing your natural light where you and your loved one spend the most time.
Reduces Stress & Improves Mood
Melatonin lowers stress reactivity, and natural light can help the body naturally regulate melatonin, which can help reduce stress levels.
In addition, the winter months can cause individuals to experience “winter blues.” While not an official medical term, winter blues are often linked to colder, longer days, the end of the holiday season, or reminders of absent loved ones. Fortunately, getting as much natural light as possible can positively impact a person’s mood, combating these feelings.
How to Incorporate More Natural Light
Reaping the benefits of natural light starts with incorporating more of it into your loved one’s home and daily life. One way to do this is to add mirrors around your loved one’s room or home. “Sunlight from the window can reflect against a mirror, casting more brightness between four walls… Some interior design pros also emphasize adding to the mirror effect by decorating with items with a metallic sheen, like brass candlesticks or silver sconces, (healthline.com).”
Another way to incorporate more natural light is to remove heavy curtains or blinds that limit the amount of light entering a space. This way, the sun can serve as a natural alarm clock and help regulate a person’s internal clock.
Dementia Care Serving Atlanta
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a full-time job. That’s why beyond educational blogs and resources, Brickmont Assisted Living offers residential dementia care throughout the Atlanta area, including Woodstock, Acworth, Cumming, and Marietta, Georgia.
For more information about our memory care communities, we encourage you to contact a member of our team today.
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