Even The Light Design At Wartburg Memory Care Center Helps Residents

MOUNT VERNON, NY — At Wartburg's new Memory Care Center, every detail has been designed with the special needs of residents in mind — even the lights.

The innovative lighting design is incorporated into Wartburg’s Berkemeier Living Center Memory Care Center, a 50,500-square-foot residence for those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia — and there's a good reason for using the state-of-the-art technology.

The tunable LED lighting allows for both color and intensity to align with residents' circadian rhythms, the natural brain processes that regulate alertness, sleepiness, appetite and body temperature, Wartburg officials explained.

The Berkemeier Living Center has 64 residences. Each floor is designed as a small-scale household, with the intent of providing an intimate and comfortable feel for the residents, staff and families.

Each "household" was designed with tunable LED lighting throughout the shared common spaces.

The lighting is programmed to mimic bright, cool daylight in the morning and then gradually adjust to dim, warm light in the evening. Although this technology is fairly new, early research has supported the power of these visual cues to follow the natural course of the day. For example, when the lights dim and turn warmer, it cues that it's time for guests to leave and residents to prepare for sleep. In addition, in initial studies, staff have reported improved resident sleep quality and reduced agitation behaviors in facilities that have implemented this technology.

Architects, KDA and Alderson's A Lighting Studio collaborated with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to selectively incorporate tunable lighting in areas that have been proven to have the greatest impact on improving the lives of the residents, guests, and staff.

"The KDA team was inspired by Wartburg's interest in pursuing new lighting technology in the design of the Berkemeier building," a KDA spokesperson explained. "The project team ensured that tunable lighting was integrated early on and remained a priority during budget considerations ... We are confident that the Berkemeier building will be another example of how effective this technology can be - especially when incorporated into senior living environments."

Wartburg’s President Dr. David J. Gentner said that caregivers are learning more every day about how the new technology can improve residents lives.

"Although this technology is new to long term care design, research supports these lighting nuances and in subtle ways we believe it will help improve the quality of life for those living and working in the space," Gentner said.