Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Housing Secretary Winnie Ho visited Heng You Court in Yuen Long to inspect the eCare 365 smart home care system and how it supports elderly residents living alone or as elderly couples.
Mr. Tse, CEO of Hanshin eCare, briefed Secretary Ho, North District councillors and Legislative Council members on the 100 sets already installed. The system combines door and motion sensors with emergency buttons by the bed and in the washroom. It runs 24/7 and automatically monitors daily activity. If prolonged inactivity or several days without going out is detected, alerts are sent to family phones and the estate’s 24-hour management office so help can be arranged promptly. Residents have responded positively.
Secretary Ho asked how abnormal patterns are handled. Mr. Tse said the system can distinguish normal outings and reduce false alerts while protecting privacy.
Councillors asked how it differs from a conventional emergency pendant. Mr. Tse explained that traditional pendants require the elderly person to press SOS. Powered by AI, eCare 365 actively assesses safety, can auto-alert via sensors, and supports voice activation by saying “Help,” without needing to press a button.