The Hong Kong and China Gas Company (0003), or Towngas, has teamed up with the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions to launch a pilot program aimed at improving home safety for high-risk elderly residents through smart gas monitoring technology.
Under the "Gas Guardian Care Network" program, Towngas uses smart meters to track gas usage among elderly individuals. If no gas usage is detected for two consecutive days, the system automatically sends text alerts to both the elderly resident and their carers.
Towngas chief operating officer for Hong Kong business, Don Cheng Hill-kwong, said the company hopes the programme will fully harness its gerontechnology capabilities to strengthen community connections for the elderly. "Through this pilot, we hope to gain experience and expand the program to more more places and levels, looking after more elderly people in need," Cheng said.
There are approximately 320,000 elderly singleton and doubleton households across Hong Kong, some of whom rarely venture outdoors, placing them at higher risk of domestic and social isolation. This pilot programme aims to invite 1,000 high-risk grassroots elderly households.
The elderly need only carry out their normal daily activities to gain additional safety protection through technological innovation, said Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun Yuk-han. Family members and carers of the elderly can also remotely understand the elderly person’s situation through an additional channel, providing greater peace of mind, Sun added.
Stanley Ng Chau-pei, President of FTU and Legislative Council Member, said he hopes the Government and all sectors of society will strengthen cooperation and make good use of existing technology to enhance safety protection for elderly people ageing in place.
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