Brian Jennet, a Scottish neurosurgeon, addressed this issue for head injury survivors in 1975. These principles hold true not only for disabled individuals, but all of us. Most of us take for granted the ability to go to the bathroom, bathe or brush our teeth without assistance. I have had patients who refuse to go home because they could not endure the embarrassment of a spouse cleaning them after going to the bathroom. The ability to control our bodily functions is prime to a sense of mastery over our lives and correlates directly with a sense of self-esteem.
Few animals survive if they depend on others for food and basic maintenance.
For man it is an issue of quality rather than survival. It is for this reason that so much time is spent on rehabilitation of daily living activities. We take our morning routine for granted while the disabled individual may spend months mastering these basic tasks. As I sit and feel a sense of thirst, I put down this paper and pen, and walk into the kitchen for a drink of water. I go when I want to and when I need to.