Hanwha Life seeks ideas for early dementia care solutions

Hanwha Life has launched an initiative to identify care solutions for people with mild cognitive impairment and early-onset dementia, as well as their families.

The insurer held the final pitching and awards ceremony for its Hanwha Life WE CARE MEMORY+ accelerating contest Wednesday at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul, selecting 15 winning teams. Held for the first time this year, the contest was designed to uncover solutions that help prevent dementia and ease its symptoms, broadening the scope of support from prevention through to social participation for patients.

A total of 92 teams entered across five categories — digital and AI, work and social experience, community, and programs. Of all entries, 38 proposed solutions using digital or AI technology, accounting for about 41 percent of the total.

The grand prize in the idea track went to team "Chinguhaja," which proposed an AI solution that analyzes everyday phone conversations to track changes in cognitive status. The system uses AI to process voice, language and conversational patterns collected during calls, establishing a personal cognitive baseline for each user and continuously monitoring changes over time.

In the implementation track, the Dobong-gu Dementia Care Center's "Green Memory, Connected Through Roles" project drew attention. Built around a green memory cafe and a smart farm, the initiative helps people with early-onset dementia take on roles suited to their strengths and preferences — including crop cultivation, production and education.

Hanwha Life will provide a total of 170 million won ($124,000) in project grants to help the winning solutions take root in care settings. The company plans to expand support incrementally based on first-year results, covering the period from this September through April next year.

Im Seok-hyeon, head of planning at Hanwha Life, said the contest showcased "creative attempts to address the everyday difficulties faced by dementia patients and their families through technology and solidarity." He added that the company would spare no effort to ensure the solutions deliver real, practical help in the field.