Helping Hands Monkeys

Q: Where do Helping Hands monkeys come from, and where are they bred?

A: Helping Hands monkeys in the program today have come from our own breeding colony at Southwick Zoo in Mendon, Massachusetts. The average age of monkeys in the training program today ranges from 12-18 years. No monkeys are being bred currently.

Q: What kind of monkeys does Helping Hands have?

A: Helping Hands monkeys are capuchin monkeys (the little "organ grinder" monkeys of times past). Known for their intelligence and curiosity, capuchins have great dexterity that enables them to manipulate many objects. They have an affinity to humans and their small size makes them wonderful home companions.

Q: How long do the monkeys live?

A: Capuchin monkeys have a long life span (30-40 years). Their service careers can reach 20-30 years (far longer than other service animals), depending upon the age at which they completed training and were placed as a monkey helper. Our oldest monkey-in-service was Henrietta, who died in 2004 at the age of 37.

Q: Who names the monkeys?

A: Staff and the Board of Directors responsible for the program name the monkeys, often in tribute to special friends and significant donors.

Q: Where do monkeys live before coming to The Monkey College (training facility)?

A: Our monkeys live in the homes of volunteer foster families during their first five-ten years. As part of these human families, the monkeys learn to wear diapers, live in a home environment, take daily baths, and some even learn some basic tasks.

Q: How many monkeys are at The Monkey College?

A: Currently we have 50-60 monkeys at The Monkey College, representing three different populations: those in training, those here for respite care, and those retired from service/waiting for retirement homes or experiencing medical problems. Among the medical problems some HH monkeys develop as they age is diabetes; for most, this condition is treated through diet or insulin. A monkey's having diabetes or another manageable medical problem does not prevent that monkey from being placed as a companion or a helper, should the appropriate home be found.

Q: Are there other programs or facilities like Helping Hands (working with monkeys)?

A: Other organizations have tried to train monkey helpers, but there is none as successful or long-lasting as Helping Hands. One of the main reasons for our success is that the training of HH monkeys relies upon the interface of a multitude of professional disciplines that few other organizations are able to provide. These disciplines include primatology, monkey psychology, and training techniques, as well as extensive knowledge and skill in rehabilitation medicine, occupational therapy, engineering, workstation modification, adaptive equipment design and other factors that serve the needs of individuals with physical disabilities.

Our program began with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Veterans Administration, both of which conducted research to affirm the credibility of our program.

The Application Process for Monkey Helper Recipients

Q: What is involved in the Application Process for becoming a monkey helper recipient?

A: The Application Process for becoming a monkey helper recipient is an extensive multi-step process. Our goal is to assure that each placement represents the best environment both for the monkey helper and the best match for his/her recipient. The application includes completing a 12-page document that addresses the physical abilities and limitations of the person and defines the assistance required for daily living; it covers past hospitalizations, references, a video of the home environment, and a review of state-permit regulations. An applicant is accepted based on the characteristics, needs, and readiness of a specific monkey in training. The soonest an appropriate new applicant can expect to receive a monkey is 9-12 months from the date the initial application letter is received, while others take much.

Q: How long is the waiting list to receive a monkey helper?

A: The pool of potential monkey helper recipients fluctuates throughout any given time period. Not all who apply will receive a monkey. Our goal is to plan placements 12-18 months in advance and to have monkeys trained for a variety of needs.

Q: How long does the average placement last?

A: Seven to ten years represents the average placement of a monkey helper. Many factors influence the length of a placement, primary among which is the health and medical needs of the recipient.

Q: What happens if a monkey or person with whom it is placed becomes sick or dies?

A: Helping Hands has a lifelong commitment to each monkey. Should the monkey become ill, we are always able to provide care as any medical issues arise. Should the recipient pass away, Helping Hands may decide to leave the monkey with the person's family, if appropriate, for as long as that home remains an ideal placement for the monkey. Should a monkey die, we make every effort to provide another monkey, should the recipient wish to begin another monkey helper relationship.

Q: Are Robert Foster and Hellion, the first monkey-helper team, still together?

A: Robert and Hellion began their monkey helper partnership 26 years ago, when Hellion was 14 and Robert was 24. They shared 24 years of active partnership, but over the last few years each is experiencing complications of health and aging. Although Hellion no longer lives with Robert, they see each other on a regular basis - and Hellion remains Robert's "reason for living."

The Training Program

Q: How do you train monkeys?

A: We call our program The Monkey College, because it has four levels or stages of training, ranging from very simple fetching tasks and potty training to more complex, multifaceted manipulation of home-environment objects and complex commands.

A laser pointer or voice commands are used. The formal training program lasts from 3-4 years. Only positive reinforcement (i.e. treats, verbal praise, hugs) is used to motivate the monkeys. If a monkey cannot perform a task correctly in any given training session, the lesson/task is revisited at another time. Perseverance and praise is the key to training a monkey.

Some tasks they learn are: fetching and setting up food and drinks; scratching itches; repositioning arms and feet after muscle spasms; turning on/off lights; loading DVD's or similar devices; repositioning reading glasses or headphones; and turning the pages of a book.

For "potty activities" the monkeys are trained to return to their cages. Most are also trained to wear a diaper for other social occasions.

Q: Is training a daily activity and how long are training sessions?

A: Our goal is to train monkeys on a daily basis. Training sessions vary in length, depending upon a monkey's attention span and abilities. Sessions range from 10-60 minutes and may fluctuate from day-to-day.

Q: Why does only one person train a monkey?

A: Monkeys place everybody (and every other monkey) they meet into their hierarchy. This helps them decide which person is most important to them and where everyone else rates after this individual. To respect this hierarchy and to accommodate our current staffing structure, one training staff member is designated to be the primary person for each monkey. Currently, most trainers are responsible for providing care and training for 8 to 10 monkeys.

Q: What happens if a monkey is not very smart?

A: Like humans, some monkeys vary in their abilities. However, every monkey is smart enough to learn some skills that will make a difference in someone's life.

Q: How old is "too old" for a monkey to be a student in the training program?

A: Monkeys can learn well at ages 15-25 and still have years remaining in their service careers.

Q: What happens to monkeys that are not trainable?

A: No monkey is totally un-trainable. Training is done at a pace to which each monkeys can respond appropriately and has the intelligence/talents to achieve. It's important to note that every monkey is capable of learning/doing simple task that improve an individual's ability to become independent.