Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth, GA, installs and services residential and commercial LED landscape lighting systems in the metro Atlanta area. Once installed, the LED low-voltage landscape lighting system requires minimal maintenance. LED lights are energy-efficient and last up to 15,000 hours or more.
Parent Care and Outdoor Landscape Lighting
An aging anomaly is in the making and has been for the last twenty to thirty years. As the fifty-five million baby boomers retire, home safety becomes an issue, not only for them but also for their elderly parents, who are living into their eighties and nineties. Many aging parents remain in their own homes or come to live with their retired or soon-to-be-retired children.
Seniors and their children face the challenge of finding ways to make the home environment safer and more useful. Outdoor LED low-voltage landscape lighting is one solution, especially in light of COVID-19 and the shift in focus to the home and home-centric activities of work, entertainment, recreation, and outdoor cooking.
If a traditional halogen outdoor lighting system is already in place, the time to consider an upgrade is now. Spring, summer, and fall are the optimal outdoor activity seasons. An outdoor fire pit or fireplace makes winter more user-friendly. The COVID-19 pandemic has revitalized the demand for porches, pergolas, and patios that accommodate wider usage. LED lighting that simulates natural daylight and bulbs that generate a fraction of the heat, along with the installation of ceilings fans and other airflow devices, have dramatically expanded the usefulness of these outside venues.
Listed below are some tips on illuminating the outdoors with LED low-voltage landscape lighting systems in ways that accommodate the needs of aging parents while enabling caregivers to more effectively provide a loving, safe environment.
Tip #1: Light high traffic areas to promote safe mobility and reduce the likelihood of a fall.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, “Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S.—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group. One out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population.”
The experienced team of lighting design specialists at Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth can evaluate a location and design a system that addresses safety issues.
Tip #2: Illuminate landscape features that may present physical challenges to aging adults.
Steps need to be well-lit to avoid trips and slip-and-fall accidents. Illuminate steep inclines on a walking path or walkway so that a senior with limited eyesight can safely anticipate the incline and accurately judge the change in elevation.
Tip #3: Highlight safety features such as handrails and benches.
This redundancy may seem unnecessary at first glance, but a well-lit handrail may help remind the elderly adult of the need to use the support system. Being able to easily spot a bench that is illuminated with downlighting may prove crucial when the need arises to immediately sit down due to exhaustion or sudden dizziness. Handrails and thoughtfully-placed benches will encourage loved ones to venture beyond the confines of the home.
Tip #4: Utilize technology to improve security and safety.
Bluetooth technology, inexpensive security cameras, and phone apps have made it possible to remotely coordinate and manage landscape lighting systems and security cameras. Newer security cameras make two-way audio possible. Leveraging technology to the fullest enhances safety while also instilling a greater sense of security that fosters independent and confident mobility. It is possible to adequately illuminate and monitor an entire property. This level of security facilitates a sense of confidence that empowers seniors to venture into the great outdoors to exercise and to enjoy the fresh air and sounds of nature after dark.
What Is the Next Step for Those Interested in LED Landscape Lighting?
For the client who is ready to move forward immediately with a project, nighttime demonstrations are available. The installation team sets up a live demonstration of the lights so the client can experience the beauty and elegance of outdoor LED lighting for their home or business.
For more information about landscape lighting installation and service, contact the Acworth office by phone at (678) 324-6842 or email [email protected].