In the limited years that remain, I pledge
-
to save from harm this Earth that bears me,
-
to cherish the variety of species keeping me company on my short journey,
-
to honor those laws of nature making this fragile planet habitable,
-
to respect my fellows as members of my larger family,
-
and to conserve for the future the resources whose abundance, now waning, has made my life possible.
Reduce, reuse, recycle goes the saying, but what does that mean for aging-services providers? Determining what you can do to fight global climate change while still providing quality care and services can be a challenge.
There are many great resources available to help you on your journey to sustainability. The following are two that I’ve found helpful:
GrayisGreen.org is a Web site run by the residents of Whitney Center, a retirement home in Hamden, Connecticut. They have put together a handbook for aging-services providers, called The Handbook on Conservation for Retirement Communities: a practical guide to the green life. This resource is helpful for providers regardless of where they are in developing their sustainability plan. It contains information on topics ranging from energy saving to gardens, lawns and housekeeping.
Elder-Friendly, Earth-Friendly Design discusses how sustainable building and elder care go hand in hand. This paper divides the benefits of green design into four categories: air and climate, light and views, community and nature, and cost control.
There are more environmental stewardship resources available here.
What are you doing to help curb your organization’s footprint? What resources do you find helpful?
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 20, 2008 at 2:35 am
caroldodell
In the light of the latest release from the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 in 8 boomers will get Alzheimer’s. Let’s hope that this PBS special is something entire families watch together.
Talking and sharing what we’d like our lives to be like if/when something happens is the first and most crucial step to take. It’s really a sign of love to not leave your family hanging and hoping they “got it right” while feeling guilty and grappling with every day care.
My mother shared enough with me so that I knew her heart and I knew especially what she didn’t want. She did do a living will and I was able to give her a home passing. Still, it’s hard, and it’ll always be hard for caregivers and loved ones to deal with the end of life physically, and even more so, emotionally.
~Carol D. O’Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon
http://www.mothering-mother.com
March 24, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Eltonuc
i am gonna show this to my friend, brother