Almost Had a Big Problem... "I Should Install a 2,750 Won/Month Plug at Mom's House" [Turning My Home into a Senior House]

If You Plug It Into the Living Room,
You Don't Have to Worry Even If You Collapse
The 'Dolbom Plug'
Just Plug It Into an Outlet,
Monthly Fee 2,750 KRW
Detects Electricity Usage and Brightness
in the Homes of Elderly Living Alone
Recognizes Danger Signs
When No Electricity or Lights Are Used
and Sends an Alarm to the Apartment Management Office
Staff Immediately Contact and Visit
to Check on the Elderly Resident's Condition

On a day last December when the biting cold wind was fiercely blowing, Halla Complex 1 in Jung-dong, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. Late at night, a 'beep beep' alarm sounded in the quiet management office. At the same time, a red danger signal blinked on the 'Dolbom Plug' status board.

Care plug installed at the home of grandmother Lee Kyung-ja, who lives in Jungdong Hanla 1 Complex, Bucheon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung.

The source of the signal was the home of 81-year-old grandmother Lee Kyung-ja in Building 118. Kim Eun-cheol, team leader of the Housing Welfare Team at the Housing Management Corporation, called the grandmother. Ring, ring, ring. She did not answer after three calls. He immediately rushed to her home.

The 'Dolbom Plug' service operated by Bucheon City to check on the well-being of elderly people living alone. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The 'Dolbom Plug' is a small multi-tap that senses electricity usage and brightness. It just needs to be plugged into an outlet in the living room, kitchen, or bathroom. Sensors inside the plug detect whether the elderly person is using electricity or if the lights are on, and relay the information in real time to the apartment management office’s status board. That evening’s alarm was a warning about the grandmother’s condition.

Grandmother Lee Kyung-ja, a recipient of the Dolbom Plug service, is being interviewed at her home in Jungdong Hanla Complex 1, Bucheon, on December 27 last year. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Team leader Kim said, "After knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell for over 10 minutes, the grandmother crawled out slowly," recounting the situation. "If we had been a little later, it would have been a big problem."

On December 27 last year, employees are looking at the Care Plug status board at the Bucheon Jungdong Hanla 1 Complex management office. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The one who saved the grandmother was the Dolbom Plug. Bucheon City, a pilot area for integrated care, provides Dolbom Plugs to elderly households. The elderly who have them installed are managed in two groups according to their health condition. Those who are relatively healthy are classified as 'general,' and those who have just been discharged from the hospital or have difficulty moving are classified as 'high-risk.' For the 'general' group, an alarm sounds if there is no signal for 70 hours, and for the 'high-risk' group, if there is no signal for 14 hours. This grandmother, who lives alone and has symptoms of leg paralysis, belongs to the 'high-risk' group.

Halla Complex 1 is a permanent rental housing complex where employees of the Housing Management Corporation, like Team leader Kim, reside and take care of the apartment residents. Recently, Kim visited the grandmother’s home again. The grandmother became emotional as soon as she saw Kim, recalling that time. "It was when I had COVID. My fever was burning hot, but for two days I couldn’t even turn on the light or eat. If no one had come that day, I wonder if I would still be alive now. Thanks to the Dolbom Plug, I survived. Even if I collapse, someone rushes to help, so I feel safe being alone. Since that day, I’ve felt I can continue living in this house."

Elderly people of the grandmother’s age are often harsh on themselves. Team leader Kim said, "Some households only turn on the TV instead of the lights to save on electricity bills, and some skip using the rice cooker by eating at senior centers and only turn on the stove," adding, "We carefully monitor both brightness and electricity usage graphs, and if we see any unusual patterns different from the usual, we take immediate action." The Dolbom Plug status board can also be viewed on personal smartphones, so night duty staff take turns checking alarms even at night.

▲Grandmother Lee Kyung-ja, a recipient of the Dolbom Plug service, is talking with Kim Eun-chul, team leader of the Housing Management Corporation, who visited her home in Jung-dong Halla Complex 1, Bucheon, on December 27 last year. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The Dolbom Plug is useful in apartment-dense areas because it can manage the condition of many elderly people at once, according to Bucheon City. Bucheon is a first-generation new town, and along with the people who first moved here 30 years ago, the entire city is aging. Among the total population (about 770,000), 18% (134,000) are elderly.

Currently, the Dolbom Plug is installed and being piloted in 233 households across four rental apartment complexes in Bucheon. The device costs 100,000 KRW, and the monthly usage fee per person is 2,750 KRW. Hong Eun-young, head of Bucheon City’s Integrated Care Team, said, "There are increasing numbers of elderly people with physical difficulties in private apartments and residential areas as well," adding, "If there is staff at management offices or community welfare centers to monitor, the Dolbom Plug service area can be expanded as much as needed."

In Halla Complex 1, where the grandmother lives, the health status of elderly residents is recorded separately. Team leader Kim said, "In cases where an elderly person in an emergency is found and needs to be taken by ambulance, it would be helpful to know what illnesses they have and their lifestyle habits, so we write these down." The 'Dolbom Plug User Status' document that he always carries contained the following about the grandmother.

"Visually impaired, difficulty walking, leg paralysis symptoms, gastritis" "Actively participates in yoga and qigong exercises" "Rational and positive attitude" "Strong will to continue living in the home."

Grandmother Lee Kyung-ja, a smart care recipient, is talking with Kim Eun-chul, team leader of the Housing Happiness Support Center at the Housing Management Corporation, who visited her home in Jung-dong Halla Complex 1, Bucheon, on December 27 last year. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung