A Study on Daylight Conditions of Dementia Care Facilities in Malaysia

Thoughtful design can provide a therapeutic solution for people with dementia in both assisted and independent living facilities. Considerations that create a dementia-inclusive environment include layout design, incorporation of sensory cues, signage system, levels of visibility, and lighting systems. As those with dementia are prone to wandering, design which facilitates wayfinding is crucial in their daily lives. Hence, visibility and lighting are essential to support wayfinding and promote independence amongst those with dementia besides reducing the risk of falls. Indoor daylight settings and adequate levels of illumination are vital as they compensate for the cognitive deterioration that people with dementia experience. Therefore, this paper aims to study the existing conditions of daylight in dementia care facilities. The outcome of this paper summarizes the current state of daylighting implementation in the Malaysian context through first-hand experiments at three different dementia centres, located in different parts of Malaysia. At each centre, daylight levels are recorded hourly throughout daylit hours within a period of one day. The data recorded is cross-referenced with daylight requirements outlined in Malaysian Standards 1525:2019. The findings of this paper suggest that on the whole, communal spaces, namely dining areas and activity spaces receive sufficient or excessive daylight, while private spaces, such as the bedroom receives either adequate or insufficient daylight levels.