By Kristine Dwyer, Staff Writer
Minnie, my Capuchin monkey, has made my life so
much richer and fuller. My independence has been increased and I
have the security of knowing that Minnie can assist with tasks that
would be impossible for me without her. For example, she retrieves
my cell phone, which is my lifeline for emergencies, and places it
on my lap. She can "fetch" a soda or a cool drink or put food in the
microwave for dinner. She can scratch an itch or reposition my leg.
We share a bond. She got me out of my depression over being in a
wheelchair. Once Minnie arrived, I never looked back. Her presence
has enhanced the quality of my life. She’s my best friend.”
– Craig Cook, Helping Hands board member and monkey helper recipient
Monkeys as caregivers? Unbelievable, but true!
Man meets monkey at a whole new level beyond the excitement of the
circus arena and the animal zoo! These adorable, fascinating
creatures are incredibly capable of performing a multitude of
simple, everyday tasks. Instead of “monkeying around,” these
primates are being taught to be the arms and legs for persons who
have lost the use of their own limbs. Best of all, the companionship
and loving bond that is created between the monkey and the care
recipient is as important as the tasks performed and the
independence that comes from this unique relationship.
Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled,
Inc. was founded in Boston in 1979 and has grown from a creative
idea to a thriving, national nonprofit organization that offers hope
and independence to individuals with severe disabilities. It is the
only organization of its kind in the world, employing ten full-time
staff of which six are trainers. Since the beginning, Helping Hands
has strived to provide personal care assistance to people with the
greatest needs, especially people who have become paralyzed from an
accident or a disease process.
During the organization’s history, Helping Hands
has completed 120 placements of monkey helpers in private homes in
over 42 states. They are placed with individuals living with spinal
cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, polio,
ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease and other mobility-limiting conditions.
Since the monkeys can not perform every task necessary to support an
individual, their family, friends and hired caregivers are also
relied upon for personal and health care needs, paperwork and
shopping. Helping Hands monkeys complete the circle of care by
adding an extra set of hands and round the clock companionship.
Why use monkeys? Helping Hands monkeys are a
Capuchin species and are fondly remembered as the organ grinder
monkeys that accompanied famous traveling performers. Capuchins are
native to the forests of South America and have brown, blond or
rust-colored hair on the body with dark brown legs, arms and tails.
Their faces are light brown and have a dark brown cap that looks
like the hair of a Capuchin monk (from which they get their name).
They usually weigh less than ten pounds, are about fifteen inches
high and live 30-40 years, on average. Because of their longevity,
Capuchin monkey partnerships with humans can last longer than with
any other service animal.
Capuchins are possibly the most intelligent of
all the monkey species and are easily trained. They are clever
problem solvers, consistent workers and are known to be natural tool
users both in the wild and in captivity. In addition, they are
readily able to use their hands to perform functional tasks and to
manipulate objects in ways that no other assistance animal can.
Monkeys as helpers naturally seek a relationship
with the person they assist and they offer unconditional love. They
are affectionate, playful, and are able to give hugs and positive
touches. Child-like antics and smirky facial expressions are not
uncommon behaviors for the monkeys and they ultimately bring
laughter and smiles to their households. Capuchins even have the
fascinating ability to read emotions and have been known to groom
the faces of their recipients as a way to show affection.
The lifetime care, training and supplies for a
monkey from birth to placement in a home can cost $35,000 (compared
to $50,000 for training a seeing eye dog with a ten-year lifespan).
The Helping Hands organization relies completely on private
contributions through grants, foundations, endowment funds, and
donations and is able to provide service monkeys at no charge to
select individuals who live with severe physical disabilities.
In 2002, Helping Hands restored an historic
church to serve as an education and training center for the monkeys
called “Monkey College.” This facility offers monkey dorm rooms,
play areas, a veterinary center, a kitchen to prepare meals for the
monkeys, and classrooms that are designed to support the proper
training of monkeys to serve as caregivers and companions to
individuals with disabilities.
The “monkey see, monkey do” training approach
starts in a small, soundproofed room beginning with simple tasks and
gradually advancing to more complex tasks. Large white dots and
round stickers are used to train the monkeys to stay away from
doorways, stoves, medicine cabinets and other potentially dangerous
areas. All monkeys are potty-trained (they return to their cage for
these activities) and cage-trained so they can have their own space
for toys, blankets and a quiet resting place. Positive methods are
used to teach monkeys how to operate objects such as light switches,
DVD and CD players, microwaves, televisions and speakerphones.
Amazingly, monkeys are even capable of turning on a computer,
adjusting reading glasses, and setting up food and drinks for their
recipients.
It takes at least three to five years to train
each monkey and during that time the animal’s personality is closely
observed so it can be placed with the right individual. When a match
is made between a qualified recipient and a monkey who has been
completely trained, a staff person from Helping Hands will assist in
the recipient’s home by teaching the couple how to care for and work
with each other.
Recipients of a monkey helper command their
behavior by the use of a laser pointer directed by mouth control,
along with simple voice commands. This allows a movement-impaired
person the ability to communicate their needs to the monkey.
Positive reinforcement along with verbal praises, physical affection
and rewards of food are the keys to supporting a monkey’s
cooperation and task performance. Results have shown that the
increased freedom and independence felt by the recipient who can
once again gain some control of their environment is almost
instantaneous.
The lifelong health of the monkeys is a top goal
for Helping Hands veterinary staff. They are committed to making
sure that each monkey’s health and nutritional status is monitored
regularly and that, once trained, they are placed in appropriate
homes that can offer them support, stimulation and love. After the
monkeys leave the training center and are placed with recipients,
local veterinarians are utilized to oversee the monkey’s health on a
yearly basis. Each Helping Hands monkey has a health certificate
that is updated annually and meets the state standards where the
services are provided.
There are two other meaningful aspects of the
Helping Hands Program. One is the focus on prevention programs that
teach young people about the unsafe behaviors that can lead to
spinal cord injuries. They also learn about the challenges faced by
people with disabilities, the value of service animals as
caregivers, and the importance of participating in community service
projects and fundraisers to help support the care of the monkeys.
The second program aspect is the use of
volunteer foster homes for the young monkeys to learn to live in a
positive home environment until they are ready to attend Monkey
College. Foster homes are also used when monkeys are waiting to be
placed with a recipient and after they retire as a service animal.
The world will continue to marvel at the innate
abilities of Capuchin monkeys to sense and assist the needs of
people whose lives have been compromised by injury or illness. In
addition, the therapeutic and supportive bond that develops between
these animals and humans is nothing short of miraculous. The
monkeys’ devotion, energy and caregiving assistance can offer
life-enhancing opportunities and restore the possibility of greater
freedom and independence to those they serve. Helping Hands monkeys
will continue to empower lives in the future and spark countless
stories of inspiration and hope as they complement the care needs of
individuals with disabilities.
To learn more about this program and to support
their efforts, log onto this website:
www.monkeyhelpers.org
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