Light Therapy and Depression in Elderly Care. A Systematic Literature Review
Tetteh Donkor, Daniel; Owusu, Isaac (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121235354
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121235354
Tiivistelmä
Around 280 million people globally have been diagnosed with depression, which represents 3.8% of the entire world population, and the statistics show that over 70000 people across the world die annually due to depression suicide (WHO, 2023). Light therapy, also called phototherapy, is a non-invasive method that uses bright artificial light to ease depressive symptoms.
Aim: The aim of this study is to raise awareness on how light therapy can help alleviate the effects of depression among the elderly.
Methods: A systematic literature review where qualitative peer-reviewed articles were used in this study. The thirteen (13) articles used in this study were from 2015 to 2025 focusing on the elderly (60 and above). Articles were retrieved from EBSCOhost (CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Elite, and Medline), and Google Scholar.
Results and Conclusions: The findings from this study shows that exposure to natural bright light is essential in improving the mood and sleep of the elderly, thereby reducing their depressive conditions, while poor lighting on the other hand contributes to their emotional distress, leading to social withdrawal. Again, the study also revealed that when caregivers consciously regulate lighting to a satisfactory level for residents (elderly), it improves their comfort and engagement. The study then concludes that light therapy should not be seen just as a technical feature, but a pivotal aspect of holistic care, conforming to Watson Jean (2012) theory of human caring and Nightingale (1992) environmental theory.
Aim: The aim of this study is to raise awareness on how light therapy can help alleviate the effects of depression among the elderly.
Methods: A systematic literature review where qualitative peer-reviewed articles were used in this study. The thirteen (13) articles used in this study were from 2015 to 2025 focusing on the elderly (60 and above). Articles were retrieved from EBSCOhost (CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Elite, and Medline), and Google Scholar.
Results and Conclusions: The findings from this study shows that exposure to natural bright light is essential in improving the mood and sleep of the elderly, thereby reducing their depressive conditions, while poor lighting on the other hand contributes to their emotional distress, leading to social withdrawal. Again, the study also revealed that when caregivers consciously regulate lighting to a satisfactory level for residents (elderly), it improves their comfort and engagement. The study then concludes that light therapy should not be seen just as a technical feature, but a pivotal aspect of holistic care, conforming to Watson Jean (2012) theory of human caring and Nightingale (1992) environmental theory.