Elder Care Massapequa NY
Every person has a responsibility to help the environment and do their part to make sure that the earth is guarded so that it will remain healthy and beautiful for future generations. Participating in activities and making simple life changes that allow your elderly parent to fulfill this responsibility can also help them to feel more connected to the world around them, keep their mind active and stimulated, and ensure a high quality of life as they age in place.
June is National Oceans Month. During this month, encourage your aging parent to find out ways that they can take care of the ocean and protect it from the damage that can occur due to the actions of humans. This is a great way for your elderly loved one to spend quality time with you and also to enhance their elder care routine by making them feel more active, involved, and engaged with their community and the larger world.
Some simple things that your aging parent can do to protect the oceans during National Oceans Month and throughout the rest of the year include:
• Reduce carbon footprint. You have likely heard the term "carbon footprint" in conjunction with many elements of taking care of the environment. This is because this ongoing effort can make a difference in virtually all aspects of preventing damage to the air, earth, and water. This process involves things such as conserving energy by turning off lights whenever possible and using efficient options such as fluorescent bulbs, driving as little as possible, and keeping the thermostat at a moderate temperature to reduce the energy usage needed to control the climate in the home.
• Eat sustainably. Seafood is a wonderfully healthy food choice, but it is important that you make an effort to choose only sustainable options. There are some species that are facing dwindling numbers due to excessive fishing and habitat destruction. By choosing fish that are responsibly farmed and harvested you can help to protect these species and maintain a properly balanced ecosystem in the ocean.
• Reduce plastic usage. Plastic products may be convenient but they wreak havoc on the oceans. Each year thousands of animals in and around the oceans are killed due to plastic ending up in the ocean and creating debris or damaging their habitat. Your aging parent can make simple changes in their lifestyle that reduce the demand for plastic products, including using reusable water bottles, reusable totes at the grocery store, and reusable food storage containers rather than disposable plastic versions. They should also be active in recycling to ensure that at least some of the plastics that they use will end up being used again rather than being allocated to the landfills or ending up in the ocean. If your parent does use plastics, make sure that they are properly handled. Plastic soda rings, for example, can cause serious injury and death to fish, birds, and other marine wildlife. Be sure to clip these open before disposing of them to prevent these disasters.