Daylighting in Extra-Care Housing

Many older people experience some form of sight loss. It has been estimated that approximately one in eight people over 75, and one in three people over 90, have a visual impairment sufficiently serious that they should be registered as blind or partially sighted.Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of good daylighting in the homes of people with sight loss, particularly in aiding detailed visual tasks. Daylight also has health benefits, particularly in helping the body to regulate the production of melatonin, which in turn helps to regulate sleep patterns, and in stimulating the body’s production of serotonin, which can reduce the symptoms of depression.Despite these benefits, an evaluation of 23 extra-care housing schemes, undertaken as part of the EPSRC-funded research project EVOLVE (Evaluation of Older People’s Living Environments), revealed that only half complied with the current recommendations on minimum daylight factors in lounges and bedrooms. This is surprising given the prevalence of sight loss amongst older people, and given that extra-care housing is intended primarily for older people.This paper will present the findings of a study, funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, which aims to identify barriers to compliance with current guidance on daylighting in extra-care housing. The study draws on existing data from the EVOLVE project, and on semi-structured interviews with 20 people involved in developing and designing extra-care housing schemes, particularly those housing schemes in the EVOLVE sample. The study’s findings will inform future design guidance for housing providers and architects.