COOKING, A THERAPY FOR THE DISABLED
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4(Bernama) — “What has cooking got to do with
rehabilitation?”
That was the question that crossed Anne Hui”s mind when she was told by
occupational therapists in a hospital here about a class she had to attend.
The occupational therapists told her the class was part of her
rehabilitation programme.
Hui, who lost her right leg to cancer, attended the class with a degree of
scepticism. However she came out feeling different.
“The cooking class gives me extra confidence,” she said.
“The therapists helped me to regain some of the confidence that had been
missing since the amputation of my right leg.”
Hui was diagnosed with bone cancer and had her right leg amputated at the
end of last year. She has been undergoing training with the occupational and
physiotherapists at a hospital here since then.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapists help a patient regain independence after an illness
or accident, by working on basic skills such as getting dressed and cooking a
meal.
They look at ways of making everyday activities easier, either by helping
the patient do things differently, or by adapting to a new environment.
An occupational therapist at a public medical centre here who wished to be
known as Hana (not her full name) said occupational therapy covers a range of
services, including day-to-day tasks such as making a cup of tea.
“It also involves making and arranging adaptations to the patient”s home, to
make it safer and easier for the person to live in,” she said.
Among these adaptations are making the bathroom accessible to amputees in
wheelchairs, and enabling the disabled to conduct daily activities.
COOKING HAS THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL
Hana said individuals cook for a multitude of reasons.
“For some individuals, cooking is done as a leisure activity, while for
others, it is simply done to fulfill a biological need,” she said.
Hana said cooking has therapeutic potential, adding that cooking has
therapeutic value physically, cognitively, socially and intrapersonally.
“Physically, cooking requires movement in shoulders, fingers, wrists, elbows
and neck, as well as good overall balance.
“Adequate muscle strength is needed in the upper body for lifting, mixing,
cutting and chopping. Furthermore sensory awareness is important in considering
safety while dealing with hot and sharp objects.
“The occupational therapist can select recipes that vary in their
requirements for muscle strength. Cooking lessons may also teach the value of
good nutrition, thereby improving overall physical health,” she said.
ENHANCE SKILLS
Hana said cooking requires problem solving through cognitive integration.
“Cooking can teach and enhance the skills of sequencing, time management,
versatility, memory, attention and concentration.
“Sequencing involves planning, organizing and understanding how, and in what
order, to carry out the required steps. Time management is needed to allow
completion of a task within a given time frame.”
She said this is important when several tasks are being accomplished at one
time.
“Long-term, short-term and immediate memory are important in remembering the
sequence of steps, how to carry them out, time limits, and safety issues, while
keeping in mind the end product of the activity.
“Cooking can develop intrapersonal skills such as self-esteem, competence,
and insight into one”s own abilities, by providing a sense of accomplishment in
creating a satisfying meal.”
She said cooking with others can provide the opportunity to develop social
skills.
“Cooking enables individuals to expand their social networks by hosting and
attending social gatherings. Many people claim that cooking is a de-stressing
activity. And cooking does have many therapeutic values.”
Physically, cooking requires motor coordination, range of movement, and
muscle strength in the arms, hands, and everywhere else — the outcome from
standing — she said.
“Cooking can increase self-esteem, competence, pride, and perception of
abilities,” she added.
– BERNAMA
ZUL CR INE CR
