Rehab as you play: cooking assessment and training

Elders learn cooking safety in VR kitchen

‘Cooking Assessment and Training Programme’, which adopts immersive VR technology, was rolled out by the Occupational Therapy Department of United Christian Hospital last July to train patients with memory loss to reduce risk in daily cooking. Mirroring kitchens in public housing estates, the VR kitchen includes facilities like gas stove, basin and refrigerator. Patients have to complete tasks of different levels of difficulty in this setting, such as cooking rice, frying vegetables and fish.

Ms Chu, a 66-year-old lady who has been suffering from memory loss since five years ago, often forgets to turn off the stove after cooking. This makes her family very worried. She was referred to join this programme last July. “I find the VR training very interesting. The virtual kitchen enables me to practise cognitive strategies repeatedly. Now my son allows me to cook on my own!” says Ms Chu.

Helen Sezto, Occupational Therapist I, points out, “Cooking training in the past involves higher costs because we have to prepare the food and setting. Training can be conducted once in an hour.” She says, “With the VR technology, patients can have the training four to five times in an hour, or even repeat a particular step if needed. And the training venue is no longer confined to a real kitchen but it can be done in ward or General Out-patient Clinic.” Jackson Wong, Senior Occupational Therapist, adds, “The VR training system provides a standardised assessment scheme. Participants’ score is displayed simultaneously, which can motivate them to learn and improve.” The team is planning to extend the application of VR technology to occupational rehabilitation, such as sorting mails and cleansing.