Purpose

Cooking is a major cause of fire with the elderly population. Forgetfulness plays an important role
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solution

Smart Kitchen Timer is a universal, affordable and simple aid.
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development

Various healthcare organizations and housing associations have already invested in the project. Are you in?
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Challenge

“If nothing is done, the number of fire victims among the elderly will quickly increase.”

Fire in the elderly is a current and relevant problem. In the Netherlands, 6,000 house fires occur annually, resulting in 600 injuries. Life expectancy and aging are increasing and people are living longer at home. It is therefore expected that the number of fire deaths among the over-65s will increase by 62% over the next ten years (IFV, 2016).

Causes

Cooking is one of the leading causes of fire in the elderly. Forgetfulness plays an important role here: people more often forget that they have a pan on the stove. Concerns about a potentially unsafe situation can lead people to stop cooking for themselves. However, being able to cook independently is an essential aspect of self-reliance. The risk of fire is therefore an obstacle to continuing to live independently at home in old age.

Existing products

Rookmelders kunnen brand helaas niet voorkomen; zij geven pas een alarm als de brand al is ontstaan. Hulpmiddelen die gericht zijn op brandpreventie zijn veelal te duur (gasfornuizen met automatische gasafsluiting moeten nieuw worden aangeschaft of geïnstalleerd), of te ingewikkeld voor de gebruiker (bijvoorbeeld domotica die moeten worden ingesteld en bediend via een smartphone app). Bovendien nemen deze oplossingen taken uit handen van zelfstandig wonende ouderen. De inbreuk op (het gevoel van) autonomie zorgt voor een verminderde acceptatie van dit type oplossingen.

Innovation

The Smart Kitchen Timer automatically warns if the user has forgotten a pan on the stove. The safety function operates fully automatically. It is a universal, affordable and simple tool that gives the elderly and their loved ones the confidence to continue cooking independently.

Well-known product, new function!

The Smart Kitchen Timer is operated like a normal kitchen timer. The heat sensor registers whether the user is cooking. A motion sensor registers whether the user is near the cooker. If the user is absent from an active cooker for more than 15 minutes, the Smart Kitchen Timer gives a safety alarm. When the user returns to the cooker, the alarm will stop.

Everything for the user

The product is ready for use out of the box and can easily be attached to the right or left of the back wall near the stove. The rotating bezel that sets the timer is the only form of control. The LCD screen displays the timer. The volume and frequency of the alarm are adjusted to the typical hearing loss of the elderly in the higher tones from 1000 Hz.

QUOTes Pilot Espria 2019

"The power is in the simplicity"

MRS. K (61 years)

'The idea is simple, for everyone really.'

MRS. G. (72 years)

"The Smart Kitchen Timer gives an extra feeling of safety.'

MRS. E (68 years)

'A familiar product in a new form.'

mr. T (82 years)

Smart kitchen timer