| In my articles, I often write about the attraction | | | | premium! |
| of condo life to the youngest generation. The | | | | Tip: if you are nearsighted, check the power |
| young are motivated to live in desirable | | | | settings on your computer. Computer |
| neighborhoods while immersing themselves in their | | | | manufacturers often set default settings to |
| careers, free of lawn care, snow removal, roof or | | | | balance power conservation and performance. |
| gutter maintenance. However, interestingly this | | | | However, if you are using your laptop at home, it |
| housing lifestyle also appeals to the older | | | | makes sense to change this to "high power" so |
| generations. This includes early retirees, ready to | | | | that your screen always will be as bright as |
| take life a little easier. It also includes the elderly | | | | possible. |
| who can no longer manage steps or may not be | | | | SENIORS The fact of the matter is, older people |
| able to drive. | | | | need much more light than younger ones. |
| To help build some bridges between them, in this | | | | Therefore, the natural-lighting limitations of a |
| article I will cover condo lighting as it affects the | | | | condo will present more challenges. One exception |
| age groups a little differently. Some of the tips | | | | to this is loft condos where one huge |
| can apply to anyone. | | | | floor-to-ceiling window can fill a home with ambient |
| 20-SOMETHINGS For many young people, the | | | | light. If you are a senior and can navigate steps |
| notion of home lighting is invisible. The "Millennial" | | | | comfortably, you may want to consider this |
| generation currently has the great luxury of | | | | option. |
| taking light for granted. Natural, task, ambient, | | | | Farsightedness, or the ability to focus up close, |
| accent lighting-the young may not know or be | | | | often affects seniors. For the farsighted, desk |
| interested in the differences because they can | | | | lamps are preferable to table lamps with open |
| see fine with any amount of light. They should | | | | shades because all of the light can be directed to |
| enjoy and appreciate this! Over the months and | | | | the reading material or other item requiring |
| years, they could save considerable energy costs | | | | scrutiny. |
| if they learn how to consume the amount of light | | | | Sometimes age-related vision loss can become |
| they need, and only that amount. | | | | more severe. Seniors over 60 become more |
| On the other hand, plenty of young people are | | | | susceptible to advanced age-related macular |
| near-sighted. The National Eye Institute (NEI) | | | | degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by |
| reports that the prevalence of myopia | | | | increasingly blurry vision. The NEI predicts that by |
| (nearsightedness) has increased 66 percent | | | | 2020, there will be nearly 3 million Americans with |
| between 1972 and 2004. Currently, 33.1 percent | | | | AMD compared to 2 million today. This is |
| of Americans are nearsighted, irrespective of age. | | | | attributable to the aging of the American |
| At this point, condo dwellers become affected | | | | population. The same trend also signals future |
| because they typically only have windows and | | | | increased demand for condos, which in most |
| natural light along one, or at most two, sides of | | | | ways are much more accessible than other |
| their home. In one practical example, they may | | | | homes. |
| not be able to get away with using only a laptop | | | | For additional general tips, I recommend the |
| computer because they will need larger screens | | | | lighting chapter in Cheryl Mendelson's book Home |
| to view text accurately. This when space is at a | | | | Comforts. |