Japan implements digital monitoring services for elderly safety

Various Japanese municipalities and organizations are implementing digital solutions to monitor the safety of elderly residents.

In Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, TRIAS Co., Ltd. has registered its LINE-based monitoring service, ‘Cocowa Touch,’ as a partner for the city’s elderly monitoring project. The service allows users to respond to daily health check messages via the LINE app. If a user fails to respond within 48 hours, an emergency alert is sent to their family. The initiative aims to connect families with local community support centers by providing information on potential changes in an elderly person's well-being.

In Honbetsu, Hokkaido, the Honbetsu Town Social Welfare Council has launched a pilot program using the ‘GOOSE’ smartphone app to detect inactivity. If a smartphone shows no operation for 24 hours, notifications are sent to designated monitors and the council. This project seeks to combine digital technology with traditional community-based check-ins to support an increasing number of single-person elderly households while reducing the burden on local volunteers.