Retirement Residence Isar-Loisach, Wolfratshausen, Germany
Operator: | ASB-Bundesgeschäftsstelle, Cologne, Germany | |
Planning | BG Immobiliengruppe | |
Consultation and distribution: | Herbert Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany | |
Manufacturer: | Derungs Licht AG, Gossau, Switzerland | |
Lighting solution: | Room Luminare VANERA, VISUAL TIMING LIGHT |
The Wolfratshausen retirement residence offers a very special integrative care concept: a nursing home with direct link to the local hospital, health centre and the nursing and residence buildings. A particular highlight of the retrofitted dementia care station is the light-flooded winter garden.
The residence was opened in 2007 and offers 157 full-time nursing places, 16 short-time nursing places, 6 nursing apartments, 13 sheltered nursing places and 25 flats.
Free rooms in the Isar Loisach retirement residence have been retrofitted to serve as a dementia care station. A particular challenge for the dementia care station was the missing natural daylight in corridors, since it is located at the ground floor. Additionally the corridors are quite narrow and have a perceived low ceiling.
The transition area between the bright winter garden and the corridor is a challenge not only for the residents but for the care personnel as well. This meant that the transition area should be improved considerably.
Particularly the windowless corridor and occupied area were to become bright and friendly. The VANERA indirect-to-direct light system generates a low-shadow and low-reflection light, thus enhancing the perception of space. Additionally the VANERA luminaires have been equipped with the biologically effective VISUAL TIMING LIGHT (VTL) management system. Its DALI controller automatically simulates daylight progression. VANERA luminaires also correct the brightness difference between winter garden and the inside to support eye vision for the seniors and personnel.
Care for dementia patients is a particular challenge. They are especially vulnerable. Cognitive, emotional and social skills are lost. Short-term memory, intellectual power,speech and motion may be affected. They cannot learn anything new. Even worse: the unknown leads to fear and restlessness. Dementia patients often confuse times of the day because the inner clock is no longer functioning. This often leads to inversion of the day-night cycle. In order to stimulate the inner clock, light solutions need to replace natural light impulses. By varying colour temperature and light intensity they simulate daylight progression.