Responding to a super-aged society: A community-based model for early frailty detection using AI and smart meter data – Insights from Japan

Japan, at the forefront of a super-aged society where individuals age 65 and older constitute 29.3% of the total population, faces an urgent need for early detection of and intervention in reversible geriatric syndromes known as frailty to prevent older adults from becoming dependent on long-term care. One notable innovation is the frailty detection service e-Frail Navi, which began operational in 2023 following pilot testing since 2020. This service analyzes household electricity consumption patterns using AI, sending alerts to municipal welfare departments when unusual behavioral patterns are detected, enabling early intervention through professional home visits. A groundbreaking community-based integrated care model leveraging digital technology, 29 municipalities have adopted it as of June 2025. However, several challenges remain regarding the use of such technology, including issues with the accuracy of frailty assessment, ethical and legal concerns, and the potential barriers to use posed by disparities in digital literacy and economic circumstances.