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IoT-Based Elderly Monitoring System for Isolated Death Prevention

Solution Overview

Seoul operates an IoT-based monitoring system that installs environmental sensors and smart devices in the homes of elderly residents living alone to detect emergencies and prevent isolated deaths.[1][2][3] The system analyzes real-time data on daily activities, temperature, humidity, and motion patterns to identify dangerous situations and trigger immediate welfare responses.[4][5][6] This approach addresses the vulnerability of isolated senior citizens through continuous remote monitoring combined with rapid intervention protocols.

Technical Components

The monitoring infrastructure consists of environmental data-collecting sensors that detect motion, temperature, humidity, and luminous intensity installed in the residences of vulnerable senior citizens.[3][7] In the IoT care system, sensor devices are installed in the home of a senior who lives alone, and the information gathered from these sensors is sent in real time to relevant offices and officials.[8] The data gathered from households are monitored in real-time on screens at autonomous and metropolitan institutions as well as mobile devices of life supporters in charge.[9] Since late 2020, Seoul has been operating a smart plug program under which electricity usage by those who live alone is monitored through internet connections to their televisions, microwaves, or other frequently-used home appliances.[10] The program involves installation of a monitoring device plugged into an electrical outlet that measures the amount of electricity consumed by connected home appliances.[11] The system also incorporates companion robot dogs that keep company with elderly persons living alone and call 911 if an emergency occurs.[12]

Implementation Details

The Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the IoT service for 2,800 households in 2018 to better care for senior citizens living alone and in need of constant attention and care.[13] The number of Seoul households with the IoT-enabled electronic monitoring system increased to 5,000 in 2019.[14] The city planned to install IoT sensors in the homes of 10,000 elderly people living alone by the end of 2019.[15] Seoul expanded distribution of IoT devices annually, installing and supporting 12,500 devices by 2022 through the Safety/Health Care Solution for Senior Citizens Living Alone project.[16] The Seoul Metropolitan Government broadened the number of beneficiaries of the safety management solution project for vulnerable senior citizens to 10,000 households by 2020.[17] The number of beneficiaries of the IoT care service gradually increased to 12,500 households by 2022.[18] The Seoul City Government established the smart plug program in October 2021 to address the growing number of elderly people living by themselves.[19] During its initial rollout seven months after October 2021, a little over 2,700 households were enrolled into the smart plug program.[20] Another 2,000 single-person households in Seoul were added to the smart plug program.[21] For the expanded smart plug program, the Seoul City Government selected vulnerable households in 25 districts with elderly living alone given priority.[22] On March 6, 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to incorporate cutting-edge technology such as AI, robots, and IoT devices into its elderly care services in response to the super-aged society era.[23] Beneficiaries are elderly citizens who need safety monitoring due to isolation, depression, and old age among the beneficiaries of customized care services for senior citizens.[24]

Benefits and Impacts

Under the IoT care service, the Seoul Metropolitan Government took preemptive measures by detecting a total of 135 emergency cases during the period from January 2018 to July 2020.[25] A total of 135 dangerous situations were detected through the project and preemptive actions were taken.[26] During the period from January 2018 to July 2020, there were no elderly solitary deaths reported when a dead body is discovered more than 72 hours after the presumed time of death under the IoT care service.[27] There has been not a single lonely death in houses supported by the care service through IoT devices since the project launched.[28] Municipal officials rescued many lone and diseased elders suffering from exhaustion and other disorders thanks to the electronic monitoring system.[29] A total of 154 emergency cases were detected and taken care of during the monitoring period, with most cases involving either people in poor health because of alcohol abuse, those with restricted movement in need of aid, or those who cannot feed themselves.[30] The data on temperature and humidity detected by IoT devices led to amelioration of housing environments of elderly living alone, such as installation of insect-proof nets in doorways, using resources from the local community.[31] When indoor temperature is higher than 32℃, life supporters educate the elderly about guidelines for coping with heatwaves, provide items to keep cool, and improve humid housing environments of the elderly through association with local social resources using objective data.[32]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

The system directly addresses climate-related health risks by monitoring extreme indoor temperatures and humidity levels that threaten vulnerable elderly populations during heatwaves.[33][34] When abnormal changes in temperature, humidity, or light are detected, welfare officials take emergency measures such as calling the home or sending 119 rescue squads for assistance.[35][36] This capability enables rapid response to heat-related emergencies and prevents heat-related mortality among isolated senior citizens during extreme weather events.

Business Analysis

The Seoul Metropolitan Government operates this safety management solution project for vulnerable senior citizens as a municipal welfare service.[37] Currently, 16,000 households in the capital are in welfare blind spots.[38] About 1.6 million single households in South Korea are aged 65 or older.[39] Some 43% of people who died of a lonely death in 2019 were elderly.[40] The system addresses this growing demographic challenge through systematic expansion, with the government distributing safety management devices to elderly citizens living alone to monitor their health issues.[41] The initiative operates through coordination between metropolitan and autonomous institutions with life supporters and caseworkers providing direct response services.[42] When no movement is detected over a certain period of time or if abnormal signs are detected in terms of temperature, humidity, or luminous intensity, the caseworker in charge immediately contacts and visits the house and takes emergency measures such as calling 119.[43] In the event of a sudden drop in a person's electricity use, the city's social welfare officials get alerts to immediately inquire after or visit the person to ensure the person's safety.[44]

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