What's Cooking? Theory and Practice in the Kitchen

Abstract

Occupational therapists are challenged to demonstrate how their practice is informed by evidence of effectiveness. In the absence of evidence from scientific investigation, theories are used to frame judgements about clinical situations. This paper explores how the process of adapting a kitchen can be informed by occupational theories, based on the first author's experiences as a social services occupational therapist. The kitchen is a familiar space in occupational therapy and forms a key environment for meeting nutritional and social needs in the domestic setting. The process of altering a kitchen is used to illustrate concepts associated with occupation in everyday life. Issues arising from two kitchen adaptations are investigated using categories from the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and the definition of therapeutic occupation (Nelson 1996). The limitations of applying theory to practice are explored, alongside analysis of how theory enhances practice. Finally, a synthesis, of knowledge based on science and creative practice based on art, is proposed.