Sunshine Units: The cheapest reform in dementia care

When people talk about improving dementia care, the conversation almost always turns to cost. Staffing. Training. New models. New programs. While there’s definitely a strong argument for a systemic overhaul, we can still work with what’s in front of us— right now.

Some of the most meaningful improvements in dementia care cost nothing at all. We all know that exposure to natural light helps maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D, which plays an important role in mood, energy and bone strength. According to Dementia Services Australia, engaging with nature and fresh air can reduce the impact of behaviours such as agitation, anxiety, and depression. 

As they explain: “The sensory stimulation provided by the outdoors, such as the sight of greenery, the sound of birds chirping, or the feel of a gentle breeze, can evoke positive emotions and memories, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.” 

Tamar Krebs, founder of Videri (formerly Group Homes Australia), is a positive role model in the dementia landscape. In interviews and public talks, Krebs has spoken about something deceptively simple: sunshine units. Does the person get sunlight? Do they see the sky? Do they experience the passing of the day?

This isn’t about installing skylights or rebuilding facilities. It’s about noticing whether residents are wheeled into corridors and dining rooms that never change, and whether that’s how we’d like to live if we were forced to rely on others. It’s about whether schedules are designed around staffing convenience or human circadian rhythms. 

Communities of practice — particularly those that bring together paid carers and at-home carers — often surface this kind of knowledge naturally. Carers know which small changes brighten someone’s day. Of course, behavioural problems still occur. But all these genuine attempts to treat others with dignity and respect do make a difference, no matter how small.

Dementia care doesn’t only fail because of underfunding and understaffing. It also fails when systems overlook the ordinary, human conditions that allow people to feel oriented, safe, and healthy. 

Sometimes the reform is radical. Sometimes it’s a matter of: “let’s have morning tea outside.”