Kirk House Research Trial

Residential Care Home
Case study

Research team

skyjoy system study with Kirk House Care Home, Chroma Lighting and Ulster University

Dr Pamela Topping – Design for Dementia

Lloyd Crawford FSLL – Lighting Design

Prof Maurice Mulvenna – Artificial Intelligence

Dr Joseph Rafferty – IoT

Dr Raymond Bond – Data Analytics

Kate Turley BSc – Software Development

Study aims

Kirk House Care Home located in Belfast provides residential, dementia and respite care.

Our networked luminaire will be in every bedroom, ensuite and social space, harnessing AI and the Internet of Things to ensure that residents are provided with the best possible light, and gathering much greater levels of information about behaviour patterns and the performance of human centric light.

By monitoring specific factors such as the activity levels and sleep-wake cycles of residents, we can tailor the lighting for every individual’s health.

Analysing our data will help increase our knowledge of the relationship between circadian lighting and wellbeing, in order to better deliver this as a support solution.

Improving wellbeing in this way will improve daily life for residents, carers and visitors to Kirk House.

privacy friendly
low energy

The skyjoy system sensor is invisible, and non invasive.

People benefits of the skyjoy system

 Improved well being

Light is a strong central modulator of our circadian rhythms, so utilising tailored circadian lighting can mimic our healthy natural rhythmns. This improves mood and sleep, reduces anxiety and promotes wellbeing and contentment. It has also been demonstrated to slow the loss of function over time.


Increased safety

Faster response times. Staff can be alerted and can respond more quickly to a person who has fallen. Alerts for changes in patterns can be used to indicate or predict risk, restlessness, multiple trips to bathroom.


Carers peace of mind

It benefits the general wellbeing of care staff as more contented residents reduce careworkers workload. Families and caregivers also have better peace of mind knowing that an extra layer of care is in place.


 Care homes operation impact

Skyjoy system has the potential to reduce operating costs as relieving stress on both staff and residents improves care and contentment. Data insight can be used to implement more efficient care delivery.


Ethical Approval

Chroma Lighting and Ulster University have ensured that all research involving participants at Kirk House has been ethically approved.

The use of the circadian luminaires and sensors has been approved by the Office of Research Ethics Committee Northern Ireland (ORECNI).

For more information on the study please contact Lloyd Crawford via the form on the Contact page.