COLOR PREFERENCE OF ELDERY

In a study conducted by Mather, Stare, and Brenin (1971) the color preferences of the elderly
patients were blue, red/green and yellow respectively. The preference for the color blue has also been
determined in a study conducted on 80-year-olds by Wijk, Berg, Sivik, and Steen (1999). Red/green color
choice ranked first in another study conducted by Dittmar (2001).

Cool colors like shades of blue and blue-greens have a calming effect that comforts and gives
people peace. However, cool colors must be used in a balance so that they do not give rise to coolness
of emotions. Peaceful environments can be created when blue is combined with neutral colors, shades
of beige and warm wooden effects. The use of these colors in nursing homes would render inhabitants
peaceful and make them feel at home. Bright yellows, reds and intense colors that could cause disquiet,
anxiety and tiredness of the eye must be avoided in spaces designed for the elderly.

For the adult people, the colour preference tends to be stable. Blue becomes the most
welcomed colour and people dislike yellow. But it changes when people enter old age. The favour on
blue starts to decrease, steadily, and they start to like green and red again (Dittmar, 2001). Female
prefer black and purple than male, and male prefer red (Silver & Ferrante, 1995). The change of colour
preference for elder people may result from the decline of ability to distinguish colours (Wijk, Berg,
Sivik, & Steen, 1999). Besides, people with different age also show different preference on the attributes
of colour. Saturation is the main factor that influences elder peoples colour preference. However, young
people think more about lightness (Lee, Gong, & Leung, 2009).

Becoming old can bring about a sense of loneliness and fear so decorating with the elderly in
mind needs to address warmth, security and harmony. Variety in the colours in the immediate
environment can boost interest in the world and keep cognitive function alive. Older people can be
drawn to soft pastels but they may not have the vitality of hue needed to stimulate the mind and mood.
Eyesight problems can also impair how the colour is seen and what is seen.

Softer shades of reds and oranges are warming and can help with circulation and energy levels. Peaches,
apricots, warm tans, terracottas and pinks can also be used for this purpose. Reflecting on the past and
thoughts of a spiritual future can also be reflected in colour choices. Soft blues, lavender mauves and
violets are colours that connect to the spiritual or reflective mood. It is interesting to note that blue
rinsed hair tints and lavender water are the province of the elderly lady. Studies carried out in
nursing/rest homes indicate that soft pinky-beiges contrasted with soft blue/greens are soothing and
peaceful. The judicious use of floral pattern can evoke the tranquillity of rural life and the simplicity of
times past.

Soft pastel colours

Resene Blossom Resene Burning Sand Resene Cherub Resene Dutch White Resene Pancho
 Resene Sandy Beach Resene Perano Resene Spun Pearl Resene Surf Crest Resene Viola

Resene Vista Blue Resene Wistful

Soft mid toned colours

Resene Astra Resene Au Chico Resene Coral Resene Highland Resene Laurel

Resene Mexican Red Resene Leather Resene Neptune Resene White Resene Putty

Resene Spanish
White

Instead, the physical, psychological and emotional responses of the elderly become paramount when
designing for acute care, short-term care and long-term care facilities. Patients at any age can feel
vulnerable in a healthcare setting; aging patients or those with dementia are particularly fragile. Décor
and color choices can help create a comforting, nonthreatening environment that contributes to the
healing process and helps compensate for physical and cognitive losses.
Within every facility, each space has its own demands, depending on who will be using the room most
often and for what purpose. Sleeping, living, treatment and dining areas require different approaches.
Paist draws color inspiration from nature for her healthcare designs, keeping in mind the psychological
impact of different colors. "Green is a calming color and gives a sense of life and new beginnings. Brown
is grounding. And blues soothe and instill confidence," she says. Green and blue are natural choices for
bedrooms because they create a sense of tranquility. Brighter colors can be used to engage the senses
when appropriate. For example, patients with Alzheimer's or dementia sometimes forget to eat.
Judicious use of red and yellow in the dining room of a memory care facility can help stimulate residents'
appetites.
Part of the challenge in designing for long-term care facilities is making residents feel at home and
connected with the community around them. Recent research has suggested that having access to
nature and the outdoors is therapeutic for elderly residents in long-term care settings. Looking outside
the building for ideas is one way to create a color scheme that resonates. "Working colors of the
surrounding landscape into the design creates a sense of familiarity and safety for residents in long-term
care facilities, especially for those with dementia," Paist says.

She did just that in the recently completed Klein Center, a long-term care facility for the elderly that's
part of the Great River Health Systems campus in West Burlington, Iowa. Drawing inspiration from
images of the Burlington area, Paist created distinct color schemes for each part of the facility that work
together to create an overall sense of community. For example, blue hues reflect nearby waterways,
including the mighty Mississippi; greens, browns and earthy neutrals bring in the surrounding fields and
trees; and generous use of timber and stone mimics the nearby rugged river bluffs.
"Color choices for healthcare settings should also be based on color perception due to the physical
aspects of aging," Paist says. As we age, the lens of our eye hardens, thickens and becomes more yellow.
Colors appear more gray and subtle shade variations are hard to see, so muted colors don't work as well
as brighter ones. "It's as if you're looking at everything through amber-colored sunglasses," Paist says.
In addition, cells in the retina responsible for normal color vision decline in sensitivity, causing the
contrast between different colors to be less noticeable. This change affects depth perception and makes
judging distances more difficult. That's where high contrast can play a role to help delineate objects and
levels. However, it needs to be used carefully to provide cues, not to cause more confusion. "To
someone with compromised vision, a dark carpet with a light border can be perceived as a hole that
needs to be avoided," Paist says. "It's important to ensure that countertops and floors, for example, or
walls and stairs are done in contrasting colors so it's easy to see differentiation — where the edges are,
where one thing ends and the other thing begins."
Sherwin-Williams will soon unveil new color collections for the healthcare environment — both for
acute care and senior living. "We want to provide everyone associated with healthcare design — facility
directors and managers, designers and architects — with the information they need to have color
confidence and product power when planning any healthcare setting," says Emily Kantz, interior
designer for the Color Marketing and Design Department for Sherwin-Williams.

REFERENCES:

http://renketkisi.com/en/color-preferences-in-the-elderly.html

http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~rjh/courses/ResearchTopicsInHCI/2016-17/Submissions/miaoruijing.pdf

https://www.resene.co.nz/homeown/use_colr/colours-for-living.htm

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/inspiration/styles-and-techniques/
sw-art-stir-color-elder