Why care home lighting is different
Ageing eyes let through considerably less light than younger eyes, take longer to adapt between bright and dark spaces, and are more sensitive to glare. Many residents also live with dementia or sight loss. That makes lighting risks in care homes specific:
- Falls, especially on corridors, stairs and night-time trips to the toilet.
- Shadows and pools of light, which people living with dementia may read as holes, steps or obstacles.
- Glare from bare lamps, shiny floors and windows, which can be disorienting and cause residents to avoid areas.
- Poor contrast between floors, walls, handrails and doors, making them hard to distinguish even when light levels are adequate.
- Night lighting that is either too bright, disturbing sleep, or too dark for safe movement.
Regulations and guidance
There is no single care home lighting law, but several duties overlap:
- CQC: Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires premises to be suitable for their purpose and properly maintained, and Regulation 12 requires care to be provided safely.
- Health and safety: the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and HSE guidance HSG38 cover staff, and HSE expects falls risks to residents to be managed.
- Fire safety: the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires emergency escape lighting, normally designed and tested to BS 5266-1:2025. Care homes often use progressive horizontal evacuation, so escape lighting must support moving residents between compartments.
- Design guidance: SLL LG2 covers lighting in healthcare premises, and BS 8300 addresses visual contrast and accessibility.
| Area or task (BS EN 12464-1:2021 healthcare values) | Maintained illuminance |
|---|---|
| Resident rooms, general lighting | 100 lx |
| Reading lighting at the bed or chair | 300 lx |
| Simple examinations | 300 lx |
| Corridors at night | 50 lx |
| Night observation lighting | 5 lx |
| Staff offices and medication rooms | 500 lx |
| Kitchens | 500 lx |
These are minimum design values for healthcare in general. Guidance on lighting for older people consistently recommends going above them in living areas and corridors, with good uniformity and controllable lighting so staff can raise levels during the day and reduce them at night. Our healthcare lighting requirements page covers this in more depth.
Who asks for evidence
CQC inspectors assess whether the environment is safe and suitable, and poor lighting can be raised in relation to falls or dementia-friendly design. Local authority commissioners may audit premises. Insurers ask about falls prevention, and fire risk assessors check emergency lighting test records. After a fall, a dated lux survey helps show the environment had been assessed.
What we measure in a care home survey
- Corridor and stair readings along the walking line, giving average and uniformity and identifying dark spots.
- Bedroom general lighting and reading positions, including en-suite routes.
- Night lighting levels in corridors and bedrooms, where access allows.
- Lounges, dining rooms and activity areas.
- Staff areas: offices, medication rooms, kitchens and laundry.
- Glare sources and abrupt transitions, such as bright entrances next to dim corridors.
- Emergency escape lighting along escape routes and in open areas.
We work discreetly around residents, follow your infection control and visiting procedures, and avoid entering occupied bedrooms without staff agreement.
Practical improvements that make a difference
Many care home lighting problems can be fixed without a full redesign. Common improvements include replacing failed or mismatched lamps so corridors are evenly lit, adding diffusers to bare fittings, fitting low-level night lights on routes from bed to toilet, and using daylight and blinds to reduce glare from windows. Where an LED upgrade is planned, check that new fittings do not create bright spots and dark gaps along corridors, and that colour temperature is consistent between rooms. A survey before and after the work shows whether it has actually improved conditions for residents. See LED upgrades for more detail.
Book a care home lighting survey
We survey residential and nursing homes across London and the South East, including Surrey, Kent and Essex. Care home surveys start from £220, with the price confirmed before booking. See our healthcare lighting surveys and emergency lighting checks, then book a care home survey.
Frequently asked questions
What lux level is required in a care home corridor?
BS EN 12464-1:2021 healthcare values give 50 lux for corridors at night, with higher levels during the day. Guidance for older people recommends going above general minimums, with even lighting and no dark patches.
Does CQC inspect lighting?
CQC does not set lux values, but Regulation 15 requires premises to be suitable and properly maintained. Inspectors can raise lighting where it affects safety, falls or the suitability of the environment for people living with dementia.
Why do older residents need more light?
Ageing eyes let through less light, adapt more slowly between bright and dark areas and are more sensitive to glare. Higher, more even light levels and good contrast help residents move about safely.
Can you survey without disturbing residents?
Yes. We agree a plan with the manager, work around mealtimes and care routines, and only enter occupied bedrooms with staff agreement.