Hanam City AI Robot Senior Group Melts Loneliness with Technology and Warmth

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) is drawing attention as it opens a new horizon of local care that combines technology and emotional warmth through a senior health management program utilizing the AI care robot "Hanami."

Hanam City is opening a new horizon of local care where technology and emotional warmth combine through a senior health management program using the AI care robot "Hanami." Photo by Hanam City

This small group, planned as part of the home visit health management project, aims to alleviate the social isolation of seniors experiencing depression and to strengthen emotional bonds within the community.

During the first meeting in June, the seniors shared their experiences of interacting with the AI robot "Hanami," breaking the initial awkwardness and opening their hearts. It was a moment when unfamiliar technology broke down generational barriers and became a bridge for warm communication.

Since then, the gatherings have been filled with a variety of activities reflecting the changing seasons. During the hot summer, participants decorated traditional fans in vibrant colors to forget the heat, and in the abundant autumn, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, they gathered under the theme of an "autumn picnic." Participants shared memories from faded photo albums and enjoyed the festive holiday atmosphere by playing yutnori together.

Kim Youngsun, a senior from Misa 2-dong who participated in the gathering, said, "Looking at old photos and sharing stories while laughing together really brought out the holiday spirit," adding, "I definitely want to attend the next meeting as well."

With the deep empathy and enthusiastic response from the seniors, the program is set to conclude on November 12 with the theme "Preparing for a Warm Winter." On this day, participants will learn fall prevention exercises and look back on their most memorable moments of the year, capturing memories with Polaroid photos. After the final session, a satisfaction survey will be conducted to explore future directions for the program's development.

An official from the city health center stated, "We have confirmed that technology can be a warm medium that connects people's hearts, rather than just a cold tool," adding, "We will continue to expand citizen-centered, integrated care services in the future."

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