Dongdaemun-gu Supports Dementia Elderly Care Robot 'Aria'

Distribution of 156 ICT-Based AI Care Speakers to Vulnerable Households Including Elderly Living Alone and Dementia Patients... Equipped with Voice Recognition Features for Cognitive Training, Medication Management, Information Provision, and Emergency Requests

An employee of Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center is guiding an elderly person on how to use the AI speaker robot Aria.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The day of an elderly dementia patient living in Dongdaemun-gu begins with a warm conversation with the AI speaker robot ‘Aria’.

When the elder says, “Aria, tell me the weather today!” the robot responds thoughtfully, “Today in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, it will be mostly clear, but the wind is strong, so the perceived temperature is low. Please dress warmly.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that it has distributed 156 ICT-based AI care speaker robots ‘Aria’ to vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone with dementia, dementia couples, elderly couples, and high-risk dementia households in line with the smart era.

According to an internal survey conducted by the Dongdaemun-gu Dementia Safety Center, the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has increased feelings of depression among elderly living alone due to lack of outdoor activities and social networks.

In response, Dongdaemun-gu is minimizing gaps in dementia care and establishing a non-face-to-face dementia management system by utilizing the AI speaker robot Aria.

Aria can be used solely through voice recognition, making it convenient for the elderly. It is equipped with various functions such as brain-stimulating cognitive training, medication management, emotional support, information content, mood settings, and emergency SOS requests.

Additionally, the ICT Care Center monitors the usage data of the elderly, frequently checking for abnormal signs or prolonged non-use, and can deliver care center services and announcements to users via voice messages, enabling smooth management.

To support dementia patients who have fallen into welfare blind spots due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Dongdaemun-gu previously delivered ‘Warm Winter’ COVID-19 support supplies to 100 dementia households through non-face-to-face means.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “Aria was distributed as part of efforts to establish a non-face-to-face dementia management system in response to the changed environment and culture due to COVID-19. We will continue to provide smart care services and non-face-to-face care services for dementia patients to ensure no elderly person is left isolated.”

Instructions on how to use the AI speaker robot Aria can be found on the Dongdaemun-gu Dementia Safety Center YouTube channel.

For inquiries about dementia patients needing help due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and non-face-to-face cognitive programs, please contact the Dongdaemun-gu Dementia Safety Center.

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