It is a project of over 6 years implemented by the Rehabilitation Unit (Aurélie Steff, Dietitian and several occupational therapists including Cécile Salort and Emilie Chalendard). Custom designed by Jean-François Marche, a carpenter at the Hospital Center, this kitchen is a one-of-a-kind model.
Since the site did not contain any dedicated cooking space, a concept had to be devised to offer this activity to each of the residents of the three floors of the EHPAD, the patients of the closed units, the enhanced accommodation unit, and the cognitive-behavioral unit.
Simplified travel in services
Everything you need for cooking is in a small but functional space. The removable shelf allows people in wheelchairs to easily reach the work surface. Many kitchen accessories and utensils can be found in cabinets and drawers. The color, a red garnet stone, was believed to stimulate eyesight.
The whole is fixed on a wheeled strut, a handle was added. The principle is to easily move the kitchen to the different sections, according to the workshops offered.
The therapeutic benefit of cooking in EHPAD as well as with patients with cognitive and behavioral disorders is no longer demonstrated: stimulating memory and sensory organs, slowing loss of autonomy, reducing behavioral disturbances, enhancing intragroup social interactions and eating pleasure.
Stimulating cognitive abilities
Even in the establishment, cooking can still be that special moment when you are preparing food while discussing everything and nothing. We do specific actions and gestures: think of the recipe, mix the ingredients, put a plate in the oven, clean the work surface, wash the dishes, put the utensils … These actions seem simple, but they become more complicated when you do it. They are not as agile and skillful as before, or they are cognitively impaired.
Workshops are held regularly with the participation of various professionals. Recipes are identified with patients and residents and food items are ordered via the central cooking production unit. All this is done in accordance with the rules of hygiene that must be applied.
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