Guro District Launches IoT Bathroom Light Switch ‘Care-On’ Project to Prevent Solitary Deaths

Smart Care System for 111 Households at Risk of Isolation
Checking Well-Being Without Infringing on Privacy

Guro District in Seoul is launching the ‘Internet of Things (IoT) Bathroom Light Switch Care-On (ON)’ project this month to prevent solitary deaths. This initiative is being proactively implemented as Guro District was selected as one of 25 districts for the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s ‘Smart Technology-Based Crisis Response Project for Households at Risk of Isolation.’

Contents of the 'Internet of Things (IoT) Bathroom Light Switch Care-On (ON)' project. Provided by Guro District.

The core of this project is to monitor the daily safety of single-person households and elderly people living alone in real time, enabling a swift response in crisis situations. Guro District has selected 111 high- and medium-risk households in 16 neighborhoods through an isolation risk checklist. For these households, the bathroom switches will be replaced with smart care switches, and IoT outlets and a care app will be installed.

The smart care switch and IoT outlet operate on a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) basis, allowing them to function without a separate internet connection. This makes installation easy even in the homes of elderly people living alone without internet access. The system double-checks daily activity patterns by analyzing the power consumption and usage frequency of appliances connected to the outlet. If there is no usage history of the bathroom switch or outlet for a certain period, the system triple-checks the resident’s status through the care app installed on their mobile phone. The care app analyzes data such as whether the phone has been unlocked, text and call records, and charging status to determine whether the resident is simply out or in a crisis situation.

This system serves as a non-face-to-face social safety net that reduces the risk of solitary death without invading privacy, with the monitoring center continuously checking for any abnormal responses. Applications can be submitted through local community centers.

Jang Inhong, Mayor of Guro District, stated, “This project will serve as a proactive response system for households at risk of isolation and will help create a more comprehensive care environment,” adding, “We will continue to build a safe Guro District where no one is left out.”