Wattle Lodge Hostel, Vic
Light program
The objective of the light program at Wattle Lodge is to reduce clients' levels of depression and improve quality of sleep.
From Wattle Lodge's ongoing data management, an unexpected pattern emerged in relation to incidents of behaviour in the Mills Wing. Interpretation of this unexpected pattern was difficult, but the data clearly showed a seasonal influence.
A literature review was then conducted.
A depressive disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was found. SAD is a disorder where some people suffer from symptoms of depression during the winter months, with symptoms subsiding during the spring and summer months. SAD is a depressive disorder related to seasonal variations of light. A further study found the effects of light therapy are comparable to those found in many clinical studies of antidepressant medications, and light therapy is an effective treatment not only for SAD but also for depression. Studies have also indicated light therapy substantially improves sleep.
During the winter months, the following strategies were implemented
- May 2006 - undertake a baseline study of clients' depression and sleep levels
- a member of the psychogeriatric assessment team undertake a full mini mental and geriatric depression scale on 10 clients
- sleep chart conducted over 24 hours for seven days for the same 10 clients
- a staff survey conducted to gauge staff's perception of clients' behaviour.
- June-August 2006 - implement light program
- install appropriate lighting in one area of Mills Wing
- ensure the 10 selected clients receive exposure to this light
- end of August 2006 - evaluate success of program
- repeat mini mentals, geriatric depressions scale, sleep assessments, and staff survey
- evaluate the information obtained through the above means, to test the initial hypothesis that light therapy reduces depression and improves sleep.
