Rodin and Ellen Langer performed an experiment in
whichtheygotaConnecticutnursinghometogiveeach
ofitsresidentsa plant.Half ofthemwereassignedthe
jobofwateringtheirplantandattendedalectureonthe
benefitsoftakingonresponsibilitiesin theirlives.The
otherhalfhadtheirplantwateredforthemandattendeda
lecture on how the staff was responsible for their
well-being.Afterayearandahalf,thegroupencouraged
totakemoreresponsibility—evenforsuchasmallthing
asaplant—provedmoreactiveandalertandappearedto
live longer.
In hisbook, Thomasrecounted thestory of a manhe
calledMr.L.Threemonthsbeforehewasadmittedtothe
nursinghome,hiswifeofmorethansixtyyearsdied.He
lostinterestineating, andhischildrenhadtohelphim
withhisdailyneedsmoreandmore.Thenhecrashedhis
carintoaditch,andthepoliceraisedthepossibilityofits
havingbeenasuicideattempt.AfterMr.L.’sdischarge
from the hospital, the family placed him at Chase.
Thomasrecalledmeetinghim.“Iwonderedhowthisman
hadsurvivedatall.Eventsofthepastthreemonthshad
shatteredhisworld.Hehadlosthiswife,hishome,his
freedom, and perhaps worst of all, his sense that his
continuedexistencemeantsomething.Thejoyoflifewas
gone for him.”
Atthenursinghome,despiteantidepressantmedications
andeffortstoencouragehim,hespiraleddownward.He
gaveupwalking.Heconfinedhimselftobed.Herefused
to eat. Around this time, however, the new program
started, and he was offered a pair of parakeets.