That's a clever and kind move from them. It's to your huge credit that you went along with it.

Forgive the digression but this reminds me of an experience that stuck with me. A good friend of mine who was paralyzed in a car crash, spinal cord completely severed at the chest. I visited him in hospital. A few days earlier he was an athlete and soldier, a very strong and physically imposing dude. I walked into the room and saw him so vulnerable, lower body useless, catheter bag, the whole thing. It was a shock. He greeted me warmly and immediately asked me to go to the kitchen to get us both a beer. I had a minute alone in the kitchen to get myself together, and was able to do something trivial for him, when of course I was powerless to deeply help my friend.

I'm almost certain this was a clever people-management strategy they taught him in the spinal unit. Maybe he came up with it himself. It certainly helped me. A very generous thing to do.

He went on to be an accomplished paralyzed athlete among other things.