Nowon-gu Installs 'Smart Plugs' in Middle-Aged and Elderly Single-Person Households to Prevent Solitary Deaths

Monitoring Power Consumption and Illuminance Changes, Sending Risk Situation Messages to Welfare Planners... Installed in 150 Middle-Aged Single-Person Households at Risk of Solitary Death by the End of December

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is launching a project to install ‘smart plugs’ to prevent solitary deaths among single men in their 50s and 60s.

With concerns growing over care gaps due to difficulties in visitation welfare activities caused by COVID-19, the district aims to prevent dangerous situations by installing Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart plugs for middle-aged single-person households at high risk of solitary death.

The smart plug is a device in the form of a multi-tap commonly used at home, connecting the power supply of home appliances such as TVs and computers.

It measures and analyzes the electricity usage and light changes in the target household, and if there is no change for a certain period, a signal is sent to the welfare planner at the local community service center.

Upon receiving alerts such as danger or critical status, the welfare planner first makes a phone call, and if there is no response, visits the household to check on the occupant’s wellbeing, thereby preventing emergencies in advance.

The smart plug is easy to install and maintain, and unlike existing motion-detecting IoT devices, it causes less discomfort as the user does not feel monitored, which is a major advantage.

Since June, the district conducted a survey on 7,797 middle-aged single male households and prioritized those in need. In November, smart plugs were installed in 86 households, with an additional 64 households planned for installation by December, totaling 150 households.

Meanwhile, the district is carrying out various projects to prevent solitary deaths among middle-aged individuals. Newly moved-in single male households are visited jointly by the community leader and welfare planner to investigate living conditions and provide information about district policies.

Additionally, neighborhood care groups and community watchers, composed of residents familiar with local circumstances, are actively involved in identifying cases. For example, in September, in Hagye 1-dong, a community watcher reported Mr. A, who was at risk of solitary death, leading to his selection as a case management target and support with basic living subsidies, SOS meal support services, and medical expenses.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok stated, “With the increase in single-person households, solitary deaths among middle-aged people have become a serious social issue. As visitation care has become difficult due to COVID-19, we will strive to actively develop various non-face-to-face countermeasure projects utilizing IoT technology.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.