Naju-si launches the nation's first AI-integrated care pilot, 'CareLink,' to respond proactively to a super-aged society

[Financial News, Naju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong] Naju-si will begin the nation's first pilot project, 'AI CareLink,' in September. The program connects artificial intelligence technology with Naju-style integrated care services to respond proactively to a super-aged society and a shortage of care workers.
 According to Naju-si, CareLink is a digital integrated care system that connects service providers, care recipients, and guardians or family members on a single platform. It shares service delivery status and the recipient's safety information in real time.
 Earlier, Naju-si had been working with Woorijip since November last year to build a Naju-style care connection system that can also monitor recipients' emotional well-being and safety. The effort was aimed at addressing rising demand for care as the elderly population grows and care workers become harder to find.
 CareLink consists of four apps, tailored to different users: Dashboard for city administrators, My for recipients, CareLink Pro for care workers, and Family for guardians.
 The platform offers a range of functions, including real-time service monitoring, service record management, family notification messages, SOS emergency response, AI voice announcements for everyday life, and AI companionship.
 In particular, the AI voice announcement feature allows city officials to enter daily life, health, and safety information needed by care recipients. The system then delivers the information conveniently by voice at home. It can notify users of vaccination schedules, remind them to take medication at the right time, and advise them to bring an umbrella when rain is forecast, providing timely information closely tied to daily life.
 The AI companionship feature is designed to ease the emotional isolation of people living alone, while the SOS function helps ensure a faster response in emergencies.
 Care workers will record and share service details and recipients' conditions on the platform, while guardians will be able to check care-related information through the Family app. The city expects this to further strengthen information sharing among the administration, the field, and families.
 After the pilot service begins in September, Naju-si plans to continuously monitor app usage by recipients and care workers, as well as the overall operation of the service. It will also reflect feedback from the field to improve any inconveniences and refine the functions.
 Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, "When the administration, care providers, recipients, and guardians are connected in real time on one platform, we can share the information we need more quickly and respond swiftly even in crisis situations." He added, "Through the pilot operation, we will carefully review feedback from the field and effectively integrate it into integrated care, so that we can build a more thorough care system in which no citizen in need of care is left behind."

[email protected] Hwang Tae-jong Reporter