“Heagreed,withtheindifferenceofapersonwhoknows
he willsoonbe gone,” Thomassaid. But he beganto
change.“Thechangesweresubtleatfirst.Mr.L.would
position himself in bed so that he could watch the
activities ofhis newcharges.” Hebeganto advisethe
staffwhocametocareforhisbirdsaboutwhattheyliked
andhowtheyweredoing.Thebirdsweredrawinghim
out.ForThomas,itwastheperfectdemonstrationofhis
theory about what living things provide. In place of
boredom,theyoffer spontaneity.Inplaceofloneliness,
theyoffercompanionship.Inplaceofhelplessness,they
offer a chance to take care of another being.
“[Mr. L.] began eating again, dressing himself, and
getting out ofhis room,”Thomasreported. “Thedogs
neededa walkeveryafternoon,and heletusknowhe
wasthemanforthejob.”Threemonthslater,hemoved
out and backinto hishome. Thomasis convincedthe
program saved his life.
Whether itdidor didn’tmaybebesidethepoint.The
most importantfindingofThomas’s experimentwasn’t
thathavingareasontolivecouldreducedeathratesfor
thedisabledelderly.Themostimportantfindingwasthat
itispossibletoprovidethemwithreasonstolive,period.
Evenresidentswithdementiasoseverethattheyhadlost
theabilityto graspmuchof whatwasgoing oncould
experiencealifewithgreatermeaningandpleasureand
satisfaction.Itismuchhardertomeasurehowmuchmore
worthpeoplefindin beingalive thanhowmanyfewer
drugstheydependonorhowmuchlongertheycanlive.
But could anything matter more?