When there are no vacant rooms, a sun corner can be the solution
Attendo is at the forefront and has the most number of sun rooms in its homes. The next addition was Attendo Ljung on Värmdö in Stockholm, where the elderly can now counteract the lack of sunlight during the dark Scandinavian winters.
Manager Veronique Annink previously worked at another nursing home where she and the activity coach were the driving force behind the investment in a solar simulator from Sunwell in 2020. When Veronique then started at Attendo Ljung in 2021, she was again engaged in sun therapy for the elderly and quickly arranged financing for a solar environment.
In this home, it was not possible to furnish a complete sun room as all available rooms were too small. Instead, Sunwell built a simpler sun corner in a public space that can be screened with a curtain, if needed. With the help of a panoramic background image with light-reflecting fabric and a solar system of model Triple, a wonderful Swedish summer environment was created, where the elderly can meet, relax and be moved to a sunny Swedish archipelago for a while.
Older people with dementia benefit greatly from the beautiful authentic solar environment that they can relate to from their youth. Hearing the sound of waves and seagulls screaming is so closely associated with the archipelago. At the same time they get a safe dose of natural sunlight and heat that both activates the brain and gives peace of mind.
– When we had a sunroom at my previous workplace, I wanted to repeat this also at Attendo Ljung. It will be a wonderful joint activity for both the staff and our elderly where they can refuel together and feel good .. In addition, it is also wellness for the staff, says Veronique Annink, operations manager.
The coastal theme in Sunwell’s sunrooms is appreciated by many elderly people with dementia and those who may never have been abroad on an exotic holiday. The panoramic image with the Swedish summer coast covers two walls and creates an authentic feeling to be in a Swedish archipelago. All colors, lights and sounds become familiar to many older people, stimulate memory and create a pleasant feeling of security.
Many residents are discovering that sunbathing not only increases the well-being of the elderly, but also creates a better environment for staff. There are also studies that show reduced sick leave among employees thanks to the health-promoting sunlight from Sunwell.
