Novel Lighting Design for the MCI Empowerment Program

Naomi Miller (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Because most people experiencing MCI are also in their senior years, the lighting must be responsive to the visual needs of the aging, in addition to satisfying their physiological needs for light. It will deliver higher daytime light levels, with tuned spectral content, while also limiting glare. It may provide visual cues for calming or invigorating MCI patients. It will direct needed light to task areas, while also providing more ambient light that will light faces better for speech intelligibility. Daylight will be integrated with electric lighting, and LEDs and light-color surface finishes will ensure energy efficiency. Lighting in almost all spaces will be flexible for multiple uses and populations, and part of the intent is to demonstrate good lighting practices that can be incorporated into the home and the patient’s lifestyle. Controls may be automated in some places, but there will be an emphasis in making controls easy to design, commission, and intuitive for the staff to use. Any controls design intended for use in the MCI home will focus on very simple, familiar control devices.