Seoul's Nowon-gu is strengthening its community care network by helping elderly residents stay socially active and manage their own health.
The district launched "Ppallae Watssuda," a laundry assistance program in which seniors with mild cognitive impairment serve as volunteers, and is recruiting new participants for its AI- and IoT-based senior health management project, open to residents 65 and older.
"Ppallae Watssuda" supports the social and economic participation of seniors with mild cognitive impairment while helping elderly people living alone or in dementia-vulnerable households — who face physical or environmental barriers — keep large items such as duvets clean. The program secured its funding after winning the grand prize at the 2026 Outstanding Program Contest for the Daily Well-being of People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Families, co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Dementia Center and Eisai Korea.
The district selected four local seniors with mild cognitive impairment to serve as volunteers. They visit dementia-vulnerable households to help with duvet laundry and deliver handwritten letters to check on residents' well-being.
To support the volunteers and raise community awareness about dementia, the district designated four self-service laundromats in the area as "dementia-friendly partner stores" in July. The stores display informational leaflets on dementia, and operators on duty can provide temporary assistance to any senior found in need of help.
Residents diagnosed with dementia and their families who need the service can apply through the Nowon-gu Dementia Care Center.
The AI- and IoT-based senior health management project, running since 2020, helps elderly residents measure and manage their own health in daily life.
Participants aged 65 and older receive smart health monitoring devices — activity trackers, scales, blood pressure monitors and blood glucose meters — suited to their health condition. Over six months, they track and manage their health through a smartphone app. Health professionals at the district public health center review the results and provide remote consultations, encourage physical activity and offer dietary guidance. Participants who complete designated "health missions" also receive a small incentive.
The results have been notable. As of last year, 2,411 Nowon-gu seniors had enrolled in the project. Pre- and post-program assessments showed that 53 percent of participants improved their physical activity levels and 50 percent improved their dietary habits. The model — in which seniors take the lead in monitoring their own health while professionals provide backup support — has drawn strong response.
Seniors aged 65 and older who need to improve their health habits due to frailty or chronic illness can apply through the Health Promotion Division at the Nowon-gu Public Health Center or through a visiting nurse at their local community service center.
"It is important to support seniors so they can continue to play a role in the community and manage their own health," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will keep building a tight-knit care network through a range of programs that combine social participation and health management, so that seniors can live safely and comfortably right where they are."
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