For this reason, the wheelchair that will be used on a daily basis must be fully functioning before an individual can be selected to receive a monkey helper. The person who is assisted by the monkey must also be able to coordinate and monitor daily care and health of his or her monkey. Since the responsibility of having a monkey is comparable to the responsibility of having a young child, individuals who apply for monkey helpers should be at an age and stage in life when they would be appropriate for taking on the responsibility of having a child. This increases a monkey' s ability to distinguish one command from another. Monkeys require a stable, uncluttered home environment in order to perform their tasks accurately and reliably.
Young children make it difficult to maintain the structure needed by the monkeys.
Individuals who apply for monkey helpers should have a strong desire to do as much for themselves as possible. Monkeys rely on the relationship and affection that develops with their human companions. This relationship must be as important to the monkey helper recipient as it is to the monkey. As a final note, although the cost to train, place, and equip a monkey is considerable, Helping Hands does not charge for either its services or its monkey helpers. Individuals who meet the above criteria should write a letter describing themselves in terms of each of these criteria.