Being awake, mood and interest during morning care of adults with moderate to severe intellectual disability using a wake-up light: A practice-based single-case AB design

A wake-up light intervention is explored in a residential care setting for adults with moderate to severe intellectual disability on a) their state of waking up at the start of morning care (awake, waking up, asleep), and b) affect (positive/negative mood, interest) during morning care. The practice-based single-case AB-design comprised a 2-week care-as-usual baseline and a 2-week wake-up light intervention phase. Waking up was assessed with actigraphy and daily observations; affect with daily observations and the MIPQ (pre-post). During intervention, compared to baseline, all completers ( n =7) were more often awake at the start of morning care, and consistent improved affect was found in two participants. These two had typically slept until care began during baseline, whereas the others often awoke before care started. These explorative findings invite further research into a wake-up light as a relatively inexpensive, uncomplicated intervention to improve morning routines and individuals’ mood and interest.