Residential care homes for the elderly are houses in neighborhoods that have been renovated and staffed to care for a small number of residents. Reducing silent threats from man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at these “Solar Six Pack” facilities can make the final years of your loved one’s life more comfortable.
EMF Safety analysis at senior care homes is essential because several types of non-ionizing radiation have been linked to difficulty breathing, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, emotional instability, and labile cardiovascular function.
Levels of radio-frequency radiation, once thought to be harmless, has been shown to affect the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. When the BBB is more permeable, more toxins circulating in the blood can reach the brain. In Dementia, BBB breakdown and cerebral hypoperfusion promote brain damage and a decline in cognition.
In California, there are over 8,100 licensed residential board and care facilities for the elderly. Over the last year, I visited six of these senior care homes around the Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and Newbury Park area).
I learned two things. First, we met some very dedicated owners and their staff at some high-quality board and care homes. The care and compassion shown to the elderly at these places were something to appreciate. Second, most of these facilities had, by Building Biology standards, completely unacceptable levels of non-ionizing radiation.
Here is what I observed:
- Many homes had energy-efficient lighting that produced a narrow light spectrum, which is undesirable. Some bulbs emitted too much flicker, stressing the nervous system, as detected with an optical meter. Additionally, many bulbs generated electromagnetic interference (EMI) that radiated several feet into the room, creating “dirty electricity.” These “zombie” lights made us feel uncomfortable, like being in a sterile warehouse. The excessive blue light from these bulbs could also disrupt a senior’s natural circadian rhythms. Replacing them with healthier alternatives—some for daytime, others for nighttime—could significantly enhance occupant well-being.
- One home was only 375 feet away from a large cell tower with powerful 4G-LTE and 5G modulated transmissions and 30 feet from overhead electrical distribution lines. Another was approximately 650 feet from a similar multi-antenna cell tower. At close proximity, this pulsed radiation can disrupt sleep, cause feelings of unease, headaches, down-regulate mood, etc. In the 375-foot cell tower proximity home, the regional administrator confided to me that she got headaches every time she visited. Although short-term RF exposures do not always show effects, certainly the caregiving staff would have repeated, chronic exposures.
- Five homes had large rooftop solar photovoltaic systems generating troublesome levels of micro-surge electrical pollution plus static magnetic fields. The big problem is the inverter, which accomplishes the DC-to-AC conversion by switching energy back and forth very rapidly. This process creates unwanted kHz frequency “dirty electricity” emissions, and this can back-feed into every guest room. Imagine 2,200 feet of Romex, in-wall electrical wiring inside a residential care home that effectively becomes an unintended radio transmitter. It’s a real bio-irritant.
- At one board and care home I tested, the dirty electricity levels inside the house were frighteningly high. The actual levels of high-frequency voltage transients (HFVTs) I measured were equivalent to what the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found was linked to a 26% increased risk for cancers in this study.
- All the homes had WiFi and DECT phones producing 24/7 high frequency microwave radiation in living spaces. Many homes also had leaky microwave ovens. At one residence, the manager was receptive to allowing me to modify two of their devices to reduce exposure levels inside the house. The before/after reductions in RF/MW power density were encouraging as we were there to help create a healthier room for one of the ladies.
- Several homes had beds located a foot or two from electrical “smart” meters and main electrical panels on the other side of the wall. This exposed occupants to both power frequency radiation and high-frequency microwave fields. We know this is bad for the brain — but what about the heart? This video shows evidence of how smart meters can impact cardiovascular health: EKG Proof That “Smart” Meters Affect the Human Heart. Smart meters are also known to be a sleep disruptor.
- All the residential care homes I visited were at one time single-family homes that were subsequently purchased and then renovated to put in extra bedrooms and special equipment. In one home I tested the electrical outlets with an Ideal Circuit Analyzer. It indicated abnormalities such as stray voltage running on the system ground — another type of e-pollution that is on the rise and of interest to Building Biologists.
Summary
The wide variety of unhealthy and largely unnecessary EMF emissions that I found in each of the six residential care homes was likely to detract from the overall comfort, health, and peace of mind of both elderly guests and the caregiver employees.
The good news is that with professional EMF assessment and mitigation our loved ones don’t need to be radiated this way.
Many EMF problems have solutions. A facility’s non-sinusoidal solar inverter electrical waveforms can be corrected on-site with the right aftermarket power filtration. This can dramatically reduce the many unwanted effects of dirty electricity upon occupants. Smart meters can be replaced with much healthier alternatives.
Stray electricity and magnetic fields from various sources can often be dramatically reduced. Wiring errors causing EMFs can be identified and corrected. Radio frequency pollution from WiFi, DECT, and cell towers can be addressed and improved. “Zombie” lights can be replaced with natural lighting. These are just a few of many effective solutions for creating a healthier, more peaceful senior care home living experience.
Would you like to take it to the next level? Room conditioning technology can also be installed to produce ozone-free, high volume Negative Air Ions for fresher air and a breathe-easy feeling in rooms (presently, most senior rooms have deodorizing chemical plug-ins). For improved brain function, better mood and sleep, consider PhotoBioModulation.
Investing in EMF safety and environmental therapeutics for residential board and care homes can significantly enhance the quality of life for elderly residents and the hardworking staff members. These upgrades are relatively inexpensive yet offer profound benefits. After all, it’s a place for mom — so why not create the healthiest, most nurturing environment for her to enjoy her remaining years? 🌿🏡
Senior board and care facility owners and family members of guests are invited to schedule a consultation with Dr. Narramore.
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