Digital Longhua brings smart elderly care closer to home

A transformation is under way in Longhua District, where smart technology is being embedded into neighborhoods to reshape elderly care — making services more responsive, accessible and human-centered.

With just a voice command or the press of a button, seniors can now access a wide range of services covering daily living, mobility and health monitoring. According to the Longhua District Civil Affairs Bureau, the district has accelerated the rollout of “embedded” smart elderly care infrastructure, integrating technology-driven solutions directly into community settings.

The initiative forms part of Longhua’s broader push to build a Digital Longhua, a core strategy in its upcoming development blueprint. Under this framework, the district is leveraging digital technologies to enhance public services and improve quality of life, particularly for its aging population.

Across Longhua, subdistricts including Longhua, Guanhu and Dalang have established smart elderly care exhibition centers, showcasing practical, easy-to-use solutions. At the Guanhu Subdistrict Elderly Service Center, visitors can explore devices such as intelligent wheelchairs with automatic braking systems, smart mattresses that track vital signs and transmit data to healthcare providers, and interactive companion robots designed to support emotional well-being.

Dalang Subdistrict has gone a step further by creating a fully simulated smart home environment for seniors. The space recreates everyday settings — from kitchens to bedrooms — equipped with barrier-free designs and systems powered by radar sensing and voice control, offering a glimpse into safer, more convenient home-based care.

In Minzhi Subdistrict, the Longtang community has launched one of Shenzhen’s first integrated experience centers for smart elderly care products. Featuring more than 50 items across six categories — from nursing beds to mobility aids — the center combines display, hands-on experience and purchasing services, attracting over 2,000 visits and helping nearly 100 households upgrade their homes with age-friendly solutions.

Beyond pilot sites, locally developed assistive technologies are already entering wider use in homes and care institutions. Products such as intelligent nursing robots, portable bathing devices and robotic mobility aids have been included in national catalogs for elderly care products, signaling both industry recognition and scalability.

Officials say the goal is to move smart elderly care from concept to everyday reality by embedding it within communities — ensuring that technology is not only available, but seamlessly integrated into daily life.