subject: Home Care Services Can Support Eco-friendly, Healthier Behaviors [print this page] Home care services help their elderly care clients improve their lives so they can be healthier and happier. As we move into summer, having already celebrated Earth Day, Arbor Day, and May Day, it is a great time to consider taking steps to help improve your health and the environment. There are things you can do on your own, with your family, or with your home care service provider that will contribute to a healthier and more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Here are five tips from a recent article on Yahoo! Health:
1. Drink filtered water. There are at least 315 pollutants in tap water in America, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Use carbon-based filters at home to protect your water.
2. Eat organic foods. The EWG created a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide levels: apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries (domestic), lettuce and kale or collard greens. Buy the organic version of these foods to reduce your pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent. It is never too late to improve your eating habits.
3. Eat a variety of unprocessed whole foods and grains. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains reduces your risk of unknowingly ingesting large quantities of toxins from unsafe food products. They are also better for your health and digestion. Ask your home care provider to assist you in purchasing or serving more whole foods and fresh produce.
4. Use more natural cleaning products. Conventional cleaners leave toxic residue, produce poisonous runoff that affects the water supply and waste plastic. Use cleaning products with recognizable ingredients without the words "danger" or "poison" on the label or make your own low-impact cleaning products with baking soda or vinegar. Home care clients care speak with their home care service about which products are used in the home and can partner to make the transition to low-impact cleaners.
5. Go organic for cotton. Conventional cotton is sprayed with about 25 percent of the world's insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides, and these chemicals are still present when you purchase it. Children and seniors may be especially sensitive to treated fabrics, so try to find organic options whenever possible to protect delicate skin.
Ask Your Home Care Service to Partner with You
Home care services can partner with seniors to help them incorporate more of these ideas into their lifestyle. Many home care and elderly care service providers offer nutrition assistance and would be happy to discuss ways each client and their family can support a more balanced approach to eating.
