Aging in a Better Environment

We live in a fast-paced world, yet one aspect affects us all –the environment we live in. We are but one species of a myriad of organisms that inhabit this planet. Yet man has made a large impact on the surroundings of his habitation says Michael Zerafa, Maintenance Manager, CareMalta Group.

When I was younger, I looked at the world as a vast place with infinite resources, or so it seemed. Growing up I began to have a more vivid interest in the living world around me. I became interested in the vast biodiversity of this planet and the intricate relationships that living creatures and organisms have with each other. Often the public understands very little of these connections, but as science and natural research have shown in the past 60 years or so, many organisms depend on each other’s well-being either directly or indirectly. There are vast networks of interdependent collaborations mostly evident in rainforests and coral reefs. Yet even in a small country like ours, we have these networks in the, unfortunately, dwindling countryside. Man is a social creature, and he has also developed a network where people depend on each other and care for each other, especially in the health and care sector. We have advanced in technology so that we can use the natural resources around us and study the natural world to understand how it works and apply these techniques to help our fellow man.

Man has also studied the building blocks of life - the genome. We are developing tailor-made genetic treatments, a vast advancement in the last couple of decades. We have also understood the importance not just of the scientific medical aspect of care but more importantly the mental. The latter is very much affected, whether we accept it or not, by the surroundings we live in. So, the environment we live in will make a big difference to our health.

Increased Awareness

The care industry is now catering to all ages of life from infancy with childcare centres to old age, retirement facilities, and nursing homes.

All these organized institutions are becoming more aware that the environment they offer will make a big difference to the well-being of patrons and residents. Looking at the elderly care sector locally awareness has grown, even the Maltese government has put forth initiatives to better the lives of our elderly, who worked to provide for us.

CareMalta has endeavoured to improve the environment of its facilities to be more sustainable and greener from its onset. This does not necessarily mean luxury items but using the resources at their disposal sustainably. Open spaces with a serene and naturally pleasing environment are one of the values that it is pushing for. Creating a space with natural biodiversity even in a comparatively small area can have a very calming and uplifting effect on the elderly who can spend quiet time observing and taking in the atmosphere.

Another aspect is raising awareness of the environment around us, even inside the facility, to make better use of the country's resources, such as not wasting by switching off unused lighting and power, changing operational methods to be more energy efficient, and reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Our Future

The 22nd of April –Earth Day is celebrated around the world to increase awareness of the effect that our daily activities are having on our environment. This year it is highlighting the importance of investing in our planet.

This year CareMalta Group is celebrating 30 years in the elderly care sector and today, more than before, it is striving to become ever more sustainable, creating a positive green environment where the residents and staff can increase awareness to better care for the environment and by extension each other.

The currently projected outcome for the earth is not very bright! Biodiversity overall is decreasing and natural disasters increasing. It is quite evident that what we are doing is negatively affecting this planet, and to date, there is no planet B.

Just as we care for the elderly who might be living their final years, we need to care for this planet that we are all part of. You might ask what can I do? Every change begins with a choice and if we are environmentally conscious, we can make the right one. The choice is yours!