Une technologie d'assistance cognitive pour augmenter la sécurité et l'indépendance à domicile de personnes vivant avec un traumatisme crânien sévère: approche collaborative


Carolina Bottari

Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR)


Domaine : Santé des populations (Milieux de vie, aménagement et appropriation de l'espace humain)


Concours 2016-2017

Individuals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have severe cognitive problems that have repercussions on all of their everyday activities. Among these activities, meal preparation is particularly compromised, as it is a complex activity with numerous high-risk situations (e.g. fire, burns). The at-time constant help that these individuals need to remain in their homes becomes a burden for caregivers. In order to support these individuals, a new technology to assist meal preparation, the cooking assistant, was developed by our research team.

The cooking assistant aims to improve meal preparation ability and limit the risk of fire and burns. However, the help that can be provided by this cooking assistant cannot, at the moment, be adapted to the specific needs of all individuals who could potentially benefit from its help as cognitive needs vary greatly between individuals with a TBI and we would need a more flexible version of the assistant that can respond to the needs of this larger group of individuals. Moreover, the kitchen assistant cannot yet be used in peoples' private homes.

Objective: This study aims to develop and explore the effects of a new version of the cooking assistant that can be used in the homes of people with various needs and abilities. Expected outcomes:  This study will provide new technology to facilitate safe meal preparation. Eventually, use of the cooking assistant developed in this project will facilitate the maintenance within their homes of individuals who sustained a severe TBI. It will also increase the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions and reduce caregiver burden. The participation of individuals with a TBI, their family members, and clinicians working in the trauma continuum of care throughout the project will ensure that the technology that is developed has a great potential for clinical use.