Date Presented 04/200/21
Forty-two older adults participated in a study that examined the impact of a task-lighting intervention on visual performance and quality of life. Task lighting significantly improved reading (reading acuity, reading speed, critical print size) and quality of life for near visual activities and role performance but not for psychosocial well-being. OTs can promote productive aging for community-based older adults with a low-cost, environmental task-lighting modification.
Primary Author and Speaker: Martha Sanders
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kristen A. Pickett, Heidi Wagner, and Sarah Zurawski
Contributing Authors: Maria Mertzenich, Pete Brown, Samantha Gannon, and Monica Daleccio
PURPOSE: Age-related changes in vision impact older adults' abilities to engage in meaningful activities. Proper home lighting can promote safety, independence, and performance of close visual tasks important for productive aging. However, lighting levels in the homes of older adults are typically lower than the recommended guidelines of three to four times the lighting levels of younger people. A low-cost lighting intervention was explored as a means to promote functional vision and quality of life for community-based older adults in order to promote sustained role engagement. The research questions were: 1) Does a task lighting intervention increase functional vision in older adults? 2) How does a task lighting intervention impact quality of life?
DESIGN: This quasi experimental study examined the impact of a task lighting intervention on functional vision and quality of life for older adults living independently. Quality of life (QOL) was defined according to the NIH Toolbox Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality of Life Survey as having three components: near visual activities (reading books, magazine, medicine, etc.), psychosocial well being, and role performance. Inclusion criteria was having close visual acuity between 20/30 and 20/400, living independently, and being cognitively intact. Older adults were recruited from senior retirement communities and senior centers via posters and in-person information sessions.
METHOD: QOL and functional vision pretests were collected using the NIH Toolkit Quality of Life Survey and the MN Read Card to measure reading acuity (smallest font read), reading fluency (words per minute) and critical font size (smallest font read at maximal speed). For the lighting intervention, participants chose a location in their homes where close visual activities were typically performed. They identified preferred lighting levels for reading using the Lux IQ lighting filter and were given a task light adjusted to this illumination. Participants completed post tests and a satisfaction survey to identify changes and improvement in near visual activities even if participants did not indicate difficulty on the pre-test.
DATA ANALYSIS: SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze all data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic and satisfaction survey data. Student's T-test was used to analyze pre/post test change at a significance level of p < .05.
RESULTS: Forty-two older adults participated with a mean age of 81.6 years. The majority were female, white, and with minimal vision loss (20/20-20/60). Task lighting significantly increased illumination levels in the chosen area from 244 lux to 1988 lux (p < .05). Functional vision significantly increased for reading acuity (p < .001) and critical font size (p < .001), meaning that participants could read two lines smaller on the MN Read Card with optimized lighting. Reading speed increased from 156 to 186 wpm (p < .001). Quality of Life components of Near Visual activities (p < .05) and Role Performance (< .05) significantly improved. Changes were greatest for reading the newspaper, books, medicine bottles, and hobbies. No changes occurred for Psychosocial well being.
CONCLUSION: A low-cost, task lighting intervention may enable older adult women with minimal vision loss to remain engaged in performing close visual activities as they age. Occupational therapists may consider home lighting as an environmental support to promote continued occupational role engagement.
IMPACT STATEMENT: Home lighting environments for older adults should be optimized to promote functional vision and the ability to perform the near visual activities important to occupational roles. A low-cost, task light is a feasible contribution to promote productive aging across practice areas.
References
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