Health & Wellness Article - August 2010Going Green: the 7th dimension of whole-person wellness
“It is not necessarily those lands which are the most fertile or most favored climate that seem to me the happiest, but those in which a long stroke of adaptation between man and his environment has brought out the best qualities of both.”
Although he died in the first half of the 20th century, this famous quote from T.S. Eliot—author, poet, playwright, and a man ahead of his time—is truer today than it was in his generation. Harmony with nature and conservation of natural resources are on the agenda of organizations around the world.
In North America, we are fortunate not to have the frequency of pestilence, famine, drought, plagues, and other major environmental crises that our global neighbors do. In fact, we have the means and opportunities to enhance the environment that many nations lack.
A pertinent question is what’s it like in your back/front/side yard and neighborhood? Are citizens in your community in concert with preserving the environment for your enjoyment—and generations to come?
Touchmark strives to enhance the natural settings in all 11 locations in the USA and Canada. The critical element in making a difference is the people who live and work in the communities. It’s truly the residents, team members, families, and neighbors who each day work to sustain the natural beauty and function of the land and its resources.
These individuals garden, recycle, use scheduled transportation instead of single-car transport, add green energy options to their homes, and participate in neighborhood enhancement projects. All of these efforts reduce the carbon footprint, improve the nature-human relationship, and strengthen our individual and collective wellness.
As the 
International Council on Active Aging moves forward with its “Going Green” initiative, each Touchmark community will be committed to the seventh dimension of wellness: the environmental dimension. To join the efforts of residents and team members at a Touchmark or Waterford community, contact a member of the Life Enrichment/Wellness team.
© 2008 Touchmark