As the demand for care services for elderly individuals, particularly those living alone, continues to grow, artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving beyond simple check-ins to detect anomalies and facilitate actual rescue operations.
According to NHN's senior care subsidiary, Waflat, a senior citizen in crisis was rescued on July 10 in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, through the 'Waflat AI Living Support' service. When the AI check-in system detected unusual signs from the elderly individual, a monitoring staff member responded and, with police assistance, entered the home.
Upon arrival, responders found the elderly person unconscious due to hypoglycemic shock and immediately called emergency services for assistance. The individual was a hearing-impaired senior living alone.
The Waflat AI Living Support service is a smartphone-based system designed to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors. Its core function is not merely to check in once but to follow a multi-step verification process that leads to human intervention if necessary.
The first step utilizes the smartphone's gyroscope and call records. If the phone has moved or there is a record of an incoming call, the individual is considered to have been checked in. Following this, personalized messages containing photos and texts are sent daily, and if these are not acknowledged, further procedures are initiated.
If no check-in is confirmed within 24 hours, the phone emits loud sounds and vibrations as an emergency alert. If there is still no response, a landline call is made to check in directly. If the individual remains unresponsive, the monitoring center is contacted for further action. Waflat operates this as a 'five-step AI check-in system.'
The AI monitors daily activities and coordinates responses from on-site personnel when risks arise. The check-in rates have been notably high. From August 16 to 22, Waflat recorded check-in rates from various local governments and organizations, including 99% from Jeongseon County Office, 98% from Hope Narae Welfare Center, 97% from Jincheon County Office, 96% from Pocheon City Hall, 93% from Gwangmyeong City Hall, and 90% from Gyeonggi Provincial Office.
There have also been instances leading to actual emergencies. In Busan, when a check-in target stopped responding, a professional security company was dispatched, and police entered the home, discovering the deceased elderly person in the bathroom. In Pocheon, an anomaly was detected during a cardiovascular health check by the AI living support service, leading to a hospital examination that revealed a near-blockage of microvessels, allowing for early treatment.
Waflat is expanding its services beyond check-ins to include health and emotional management. By placing a finger on the smartphone's rear camera for 15 seconds, users can measure indicators such as cardiovascular health, unstable heart rate, stress, and fatigue, with results transmitted to administrators in real time. Additionally, the AI engages users in conversation to assess seven risk factors, including mood, health, sleep, nutrition, activity levels, social interaction, and safety, while identifying at-risk groups for depression, memory issues, and nutrition.
In a pilot project conducted by ten organizations under the Comprehensive Support Center for Seniors Living Alone, the app usage rate among participants with an average age of 77.2 years reached 98%. The AI conversation completion rate has more than doubled since the project's inception.
The scope of service application is also expanding. NHN Waflat has signed agreements with 42 local governments and organizations nationwide to provide services in real care settings. Through approximately 50 welfare facilities affiliated with the Gyeonggi Provincial Association of Senior Welfare, services have been provided to over 2,000 seniors aged 65 and older.
Looking ahead, NHN Waflat plans to expand its care services by connecting various devices and AI within homes, moving beyond smartphones. The NHN consortium has been selected as the lead organization for the smart home sector of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's AX Sprint project, collaborating with Gyeonggi Province and Jeollanam-do to conduct AI-based care demonstrations for 400 households.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.