Spinal cord Quote by Glen Gillen
““Some expect persons to care for themselves. Sometimes therapists go too far in expecting an individual to perform self-care; some individuals prefer to spend their time in other occupations and accept the help of others to do basic self-care. Therapists are familiar with the use of personal attendants with persons following spinal cord injuries; persons who have had a stroke benefit from a personal attendant, so that they have choice in how they spend their time in occupations more important and meaningful to them.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Rehabilitation Practices, Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2015
The quote argues that self‑care expectations should be flexible, recognizing that many individuals benefit from assistance to focus on meaningful activities rather than basic tasks.
In simple terms: Self‑care can be delegated to enable meaningful work.
Key Takeaway
Allow support for basic needs to pursue valued occupations.
Themes
autonomy
support
meaningful occupation
rehabilitation
caregiving
Mood
empathetic
pragmatic
Type
clinical
reflective
When to use this quote
- spinal cord injury recovery
- stroke rehabilitation
- daily living assistance
- community integration
Key Concepts
person‑centered care
occupational therapy
assistive support
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance assistance with fostering independence?
- When is it appropriate to delegate basic self‑care?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on attendants may reduce skill development and independence.
![“When your spinal cord freezes up, you're vulnerable to everything. But he [Chrestopher Reese] was tough as nails. And he kept a great, kind of dark sense of humor about it, but also was able to accomplish amazing things.” quote by Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/893/robin-williams-682_able_when-your-spinal-cord-freezes-up-you-re_173136.jpg)
