Travels and staying green

With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and the constant reminders about our endangered environment, who can afford not to be conscious of depleting resources and global warming? I have become more aware of how environmentally unfriendly I am when I travel. Even if I do not count carbon emissions from flying, I am still ruthlessly taking advantage of the world’s limited resources.

Hotels, for example. No matter how many times I place the green card on my bed indicating that I do not need to have my towels changed every day, and even though I hang up my towels to make sure that they are not the floor, I still get fresh, clean towels every day. I eat meals that are served in generous portions and end up not finishing them. There is no use taking a doggie bag, because I may not be able to finish the food when I am back at the hotel; I may have other plans or may be leaving the next day. I use soap, paper cups, Kleenex and so on, but leave the unused portions to be thrown away.

I take free souvenirs or buy souvenirs that are of no particular use. I don’t need them, but I take these little presents just the same. Because these little gifts please me and I take them, conference exhibitors continue to give them out for free. I take promotional printed items. I hardly read them, or just browse through them before tossing them in the garbage. I may bring home only about one-fifth of the materials I receive. Worse still, I hardly use even that small fraction. I am as hypocritical as those crusaders to the Antarctic, whom I have criticized.

I often wonder about those environmentalists who claim they love Mother Nature, but go on exploring the Antarctic—or Arctic—to document the destruction that humankind has done to our pristine land. Many of those who have visited those remote places are not scientists, but advocates who want to see firsthand the damage that has been done. Why do they feel the need to be there, to be seen in pictures of themselves in the Antarctic, before they can promote its protection?

As I reflect on my lifestyle, particularly when I travel, I realize that I am no better than those about whom I grumble.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Going green and care of older adults

Looking after my mother, age 82, has given me new insights into what it means to be environmentally aware when we look after older adults. It is not so straightforward.

My mother has been very conscious about turning off the lights (and thereby saving electricity) since she was young. But now, when I find her fiddling around in dim light in her room, I am concerned, fearing she might trip on something and hurt herself.

On occasions when I am burning the midnight oil, I notice my mother getting up to go to the bathroom, again finding her way in darkness and not turning on any lights. Though there is a night light in her room, it is dark in the bathroom. It is hard to convince her it would be better to turn on the lights in the bathroom. Fearing she may trip over something, we usually keep a lot of lights on to make a brighter environment for Mom.

That water conservation is an issue in caregiving is something else I didn’t realize before. You are less likely to conserve water if you are caring for a senior. While, in the past, Mom could turn off the tap in a second, now it takes considerably longer. With failing eyesight and less dexterity, it has become more frequent that my mother fails to fully turn off the tap. The tap can run for a long while before someone at home discovers it.

Even when someone is around, trying to reduce water use is not always easy. Mom moves slowly. Everything is always ready for her bath but she takes her time to undress, to check whether she has all her clothes and other items she needs, such as a face cloth. And so the tap keeps running to add hot water to the tub until she finally gets in and washes herself.

Increasing age leads to less efficient adaptation to environmental temperatures. My mother often complains of feeling too warm or too cold. To provide a more stable ambient temperature that makes her feel more comfortable, it becomes necessary to use a lot of air conditioning and heating.

Living with Mom for the last five months has made me realize that, as one who is environmentally conscious, use of sensing technology is very important in looking after seniors. The problem is that people who have lived in their own home for many years cannot always readily switch to using technological devices.

To me, the challenges ahead for gerotechnologists are twofold: developing innovative technologies that are readily adaptable to existing home settings and making these gadgets affordable.

Going green is good, of course. It is something that every responsible citizen should consider and in which they should become involved. However, there are concerns other than higher water and electricity bills. Not long ago, the Hong Kong government passed legislation that vehicles not in motion must have their engines turned off.

Hong Kong, however, lies in the subtropics. In the subtropical sun, the temperature can be significantly higher inside a vehicle. In yesterday’s news, it was reported that an 81-year-old minibus driver had been found unconscious in the driver’s seat. The air conditioning had been turned off while he was waiting in line to pick up passengers. He passed away the next day.
It is not so easy to draw the line between saving our planet and staying safe at the same time.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.