Abstract

This systematic review, similar to its preceding edition, examines and intends to identify what kinds of colour application effectively support safe and independent movement of older people and individuals with vision impairment in their home. The use of bright colours, colour coding and colour contrast, which had been included in the previous review; have been confirmed effective to provide better visual cues for older people and individuals with vision impairment. However, use of an aesthetically preferred colour, which was also outlined in the previous edition, had insufficient evidence supporting its effectiveness compared to other applications. This review also confirmed that colour applications improved several aspects of movement of older people and individuals with vision impairment within home environment that also had been described in the previous review. These improved aspects are: recognition of the surroundings; spatial orientation; independence and mood. Further studies are expected to inform how lightness/brightness difference and chromatic/ colour difference as commonly known part of colour applications, should be used, positioned and specified when defining expected building performance outcomes and accessibility standards reading people with various visual functions or vision impairments.

Publication History

1st edition: The application of colour and colour contrast in the home environment of the elderly and visually impaired individuals by N. Gohar, July 2009.

This is the Second Edition of the Evidence Based Practice Review: Use of Colour for Safe Movement, replacing the first edition, titled The application of colour and colour contrast in the home environment of the elderly and visually impaired individuals. This edition updates and confirms the colour interventions and their outcomes regarding movement of older people and individuals with vision impairment in their home, based on new studies and findings on colour applications in built environment  since the publication of the First Edition seven years ago, in 2009.  

In this Second Edition, 

Aldyfra Lukman developed and updated materials regarding colour application and colour contrast by reviewing studies conducted and articles written from 2009 to 2016.
Catherine Bridge guided and provided advice for developing and updating the materials regarding colour application and colour contrast.
Joanne Quinn assisted in defining the research question and search terms, guiding the process of developing and updating materials regarding colour application and colour contrast.