Shallow sleep at night, mood swings, irritability during the day—these are common issues faced by modern people. Lighting is closely tied to our physiological clock, and these problems may be related to the "light" environment around us. Therefore, many research institutions both domestically and internationally have conducted studies and experiments on indoor lighting, aiming to create lighting environments that are beneficial to the human body.

Creating a Lighting Therapy System to Enhance Medical Quality

Zhudong Veterans General Hospital is a medical facility that provides both acute care beds and nursing home services. Due to work demands or illness, both medical staff and long-term residents often spend extended periods indoors, leading to issues such as sleep disorders, emotional instability, and osteoporosis. After evaluation, it was found that the lack of natural sunlight exposure contributed to these emotional and physical issues.

In collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the hospital has developed an environment that simulates natural light’s circadian rhythm. Using spectral adjustment technology, the wavelength of the light is adjusted according to different times of the day without affecting the color of the light, helping to regulate melatonin secretion. This adjustment supports medical staff in resetting their circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality. Additionally, a "Light Therapy Care System" was introduced to improve conditions for patients with chronic mental illnesses. Originally used for treating seasonal affective disorder in high-latitude areas, this light therapy utilizes wavelengths that can improve sleep quality, providing systematic light treatment for psychiatric patients.

Creating an environment with lighting that mimics the natural circadian rhythm has been shown to improve not only the sleep and stress levels of healthcare staff but also the mental health of patients.

Adjusting Lighting to Awaken the Body's Healing Power

During deep sleep stages, the body repairs its functions, enabling self-healing; during REM sleep, the mind processes memories and restores mental health. However, elderly individuals who spend long periods indoors have reduced sensitivity to the natural day-night cycle, often resulting in excessive daytime sleep and difficulty sleeping at night. This prevents both physical and mental restoration.

Studies show that using smart lighting that simulates natural sunlight by adjusting color temperature, wavelength, and illuminance can significantly improve sleep quality in the elderly. Regular exposure to appropriate light throughout the day has been shown to increase total sleep time, reduce nighttime awakenings, and decrease the total time spent awake before falling asleep. Additionally, emotional and mental symptoms in elderly individuals have improved, leading to better relationships with family members.

Creating a Friendly Medical and Elderly Care Environment

If smart lighting and lighting technologies are widely applied in healthcare and elderly care settings, it can create a friendly and suitable lighting environment for medical staff, patients, elderly care residents, and caregivers. This can significantly enhance the quality of care for all involved.