# Making our Homes and Neighbourhoods Safer for Seniors - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2024-03-05T07:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/making-our-homes-and-neighbourhoods-safer-for-seniors - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing ## Featured rationale Expanded ageing-in-place improvements may reduce pressure on seniors to relocate and could make older HDB flats and neighbourhoods more suitable for long-term occupancy. ## AI summary From 1 April 2024, EASE 2.0 added senior-friendly home fittings with subsidies up to 95%, while over 100,000 more flats became eligible for neighbourhood renewal. ## Original article At MND’s Committee of Supply debate today, Minister of State for National Development, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim provided updates on various initiatives under the national Age Well SG programme, to help seniors age safely and independently within their homes and around the estates through neighbourhood rejuvenation works. As announced in November 2023, MND, MOH, and MOT will roll out a slew of initiatives under Age Well SG to make our HDB homes and precincts more senior-friendly. To support ageing-in-place, we will: · Offer a wider range of fittings under the EASE 2.0 programme, to enable seniors to move around safely within their homes; · Extend the provision of the wireless Alert Alarm System (AAS) to all seniors living in public rental housing; and · Expand the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) to more neighbourhoods. Implementation of Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) 2.0 From 1 April 2024, HDB will offer a wider range of senior-friendly items under the EASE 2.0 programme, to enhance the safety and well-being for seniors to age in place. This includes bidet sprays, foldable U-profile grab bars and lowering of toilet entrance kerbs. More details on the improvement items can be found in Annex A. S/N S/N New items under EASE 2.0 New items under EASE 2.0 S/N S/N Existing items under EASE (will continue to be offered) Existing items under EASE (will continue to be offered) Items to provide additional support to seniors for fall prevention Items to provide additional support to seniors for fall prevention 1 1 Grab bars (Foldable U-profile)[1] Grab bars (Foldable U-profile)[1] 9 9 Grab bars (linear and fixed U-profile) Grab bars (linear and fixed U-profile) 2 2 Lowering of toilet/ bathroom entrance kerb Lowering of toilet/ bathroom entrance kerb 10 10 Slip-resistant treatment to existing toilet / bathroom flooring Slip-resistant treatment to existing toilet / bathroom flooring 3 3 Wall-mounted foldable shower seat Wall-mounted foldable shower seat - - 4 4 Handrail at main entrance with step(s) Handrail at main entrance with step(s) - - Items to support wheelchair/ commode users Items to support wheelchair/ commode users 5 5 Widening of toilet/bathroom entrance Widening of toilet/bathroom entrance 11 11 Accessibility solutions (ramp for single and multi-step, and wheelchair lifter) Accessibility solutions (ramp for single and multi-step, and wheelchair lifter) Items to promote seniors’ safety and well-being Items to promote seniors’ safety and well-being 6 6 Bidet spray (next to pedestal pan) Bidet spray (next to pedestal pan) - - 7 7 Rocker switch (for existing small lighting switches within flat) Rocker switch (for existing small lighting switches within flat) - - 8 8 Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) in living room Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) in living room - - As with the current EASE programme, the new improvement items under the EASE 2.0 programme will be heavily subsidised by the Government, for up to 95% of the cost. Flat owners can choose the improvement items that they need and pay between 5% to 12.5% of the cost[2], depending on their flat type. A breakdown of the respective cost items by flat type can be found in Annex B. Application Procedure From 1 April 2024, flat owners may apply or opt for the new improvement items as follows (details on the implementation schedule can be found in Annex C): (a) Home Improvement Programme (HIP) with EASE - Flat owners may opt for the new improvement items when undergoing HIP. For HIP precincts where works within the flats are on-going, eligible households can also opt for the new improvement items. (b) EASE (Direct Application) - Eligible flat owners who require EASE before HIP commences, or whose blocks do not qualify for HIP, may apply for the new improvement items through the e-Service on HDB InfoWEB. A site survey will be conducted before the installation of the items. Expansion of the Wireless Alert Alarm System To better support low-income and vulnerable seniors who may not have family support, HDB will expand the provision of the wireless Alert Alarm System (AAS) to benefit around 26,800 more seniors living in about 170 rental blocks. These blocks are located islandwide, including towns such as Bukit Merah and Kallang/Whampoa. The installation works are expected to commence from January 2025 and will take about five years to complete. With the wireless AAS, seniors will be able to call for help during emergencies by pressing the alert buttons conveniently placed in their homes. Upon activation of the alert button, seniors will be connected to CareLine, a 24/7 hotline that responds to callers in distress, or nearby Active Ageing Centres (AACs). Rejuvenating our Neighbourhoods to be more senior friendly HDB will also be extending the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) to more flats. Under the NRP, HDB has been working with Town Councils to provide and upgrade facilities within the neighbourhoods for flats built up to 1995. This entails providing new facilities or refreshing existing facilities, including community plazas, precinct pavilions, covered linkways and fitness or play facilities. The NRP will now be extended to flats built up to 1999, with over 100,000 flats eligible for improvement works to their neighbourhood. Under this upcoming fifth phase of NRP, the scope of improvement works will also be expanded to better support seniors to age in place. For example, the upgrading works will include more senior-friendly facilities and features to improve the social, mental and physical well-being of seniors. More information on the timeline and implementation schedule of this new phase of NRP will be announced when ready. Building an Inclusive Home for All Singaporeans MND and HDB are committed to building inclusive homes to meet the diverse housing needs and budgets of all Singaporeans. We will continue to keep public housing accessible and enhance the liveability of our homes and neighbourhoods to allow our seniors to age gracefully and safely within the community. Issued By : MND & HDB Date : 5 March 2024 [1] For units with site constraints where linear grab bars cannot be installed [2] Flat owners may need to pay for other work-related cost that are necessary. Annex A, B & C ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 让我们的住家与邻里对年长者更安全 在国家发展部今日的预算委员会（供应）辩论中，国家发展部政务部长穆罕默德·费沙尔副教授介绍了全国“乐龄安居SG”（Age Well SG）计划下的多项措施进展，以通过邻里更新工程，协助年长者在家中及组屋区内安全、独立地安老。 正如2023年11月所宣布，国家发展部、卫生部与交通部将在“乐龄安居SG”下推出一系列措施，使组屋住家与邻里更年长者友好。为支持居家安老，我们将： · 在EASE 2.0计划下提供更广泛的装修改施选项，让年长者能在家中安全走动； · 将无线警报报警系统（AAS）的提供范围扩大至所有居住在公共租赁组屋的年长者；以及 · 将邻里更新计划（NRP）扩展至更多邻里。 推行乐龄改进计划（EASE）2.0 自2024年4月1日起，建屋发展局将在EASE 2.0计划下提供更广泛的年长者友好项目，以提升年长者居家安老的安全与福祉。这包括净身喷枪、可折叠U型扶手，以及降低厕所入口门槛等。改进项目详情见附件A。 序号 序号 EASE 2.0新增项目 EASE 2.0新增项目 序号 序号 EASE现有项目（将继续提供） EASE现有项目（将继续提供） 为年长者提供额外防跌支持的项目 为年长者提供额外防跌支持的项目 1 1 扶手（可折叠U型）[1] 扶手（可折叠U型）[1] 9 9 扶手（直线型及固定U型） 扶手（直线型及固定U型） 2 2 降低厕所／浴室入口门槛 降低厕所／浴室入口门槛 10 10 为现有厕所／浴室地面进行防滑处理 为现有厕所／浴室地面进行防滑处理 3 3 壁挂式可折叠淋浴座椅 壁挂式可折叠淋浴座椅 - - 4 4 主入口有台阶处的扶手 主入口有台阶处的扶手 - - 支持轮椅／便椅使用者的项目 支持轮椅／便椅使用者的项目 5 5 扩宽厕所／浴室入口 扩宽厕所／浴室入口 11 11 无及性解决方案（单级与多级斜坡，以及轮椅升降机） 可及性解决方案（单级与多级斜坡，以及轮椅升降机） 促进年长者安全与福祉的项目 促进年长者安全与福祉的项目 6 6 净身喷枪（设于坐厕旁） 净身喷枪（设于坐厕旁） - - 7 7 翘板开关（用于组屋内现有小型照明开关） 翘板开关（用于组屋内现有小型照明开关） - - 8 8 客厅家用火警警报装置（HFAD） 客厅家用火警警报装置（HFAD） - - 与现行EASE计划一样，EASE 2.0计划下的新改进项目将获政府大幅津贴，最高可达费用的95%。组屋业主可按需要选择改进项目，并支付费用的5%至12.5%[2]，视组屋户型而定。各户型相关费用明细见附件B。 申请程序 自2024年4月1日起，组屋业主可按以下方式申请或选择新改进项目（实施时间表详情见附件C）： （a）住屋改进计划（HIP）连同EASE - 组屋业主在进行HIP时，可选择新改进项目。对于组屋内工程已在进行中的HIP邻里，合资格住户也可选择新改进项目。 （b）EASE（直接申请） - 在HIP开始前已需要EASE，或其组屋座不符合HIP资格的合资格组屋业主，可通过建屋发展局资讯网（HDB InfoWEB）上的电子服务申请新改进项目。安装项目前将进行现场勘测。 扩大无线警报报警系统 为更好支持可能缺乏家庭支援的低收入及脆弱年长者，建屋发展局将扩大无线警报报警系统（AAS）的提供范围，惠及约26,800名居住在约170座租赁组屋的年长者。这些组屋座遍布全岛，包括红山与加冷／黄埔等市镇。安装工程预计自2025年1月展开，约需五年完成。 有了无线AAS，年长者可在紧急情况下按下方便置于家中的警报按钮求助。启动警报按钮后，年长者将接通CareLine——一条全天候回应遇困来电者的热线，或附近的活跃乐龄中心（AAC）。 更新邻里，使其更年长者友好 建屋发展局亦将把邻里更新计划（NRP）扩展至更多组屋。在NRP下，建屋发展局一直与市镇理事会合作，为1995年或之前建成的组屋提供并提升邻里设施。这包括提供新设施或更新现有设施，如社区广场、邻里亭、有盖走道以及健身或游乐设施。 NRP现将扩展至1999年或之前建成的组屋，逾10万个组屋单位符合邻里改进工程资格。在即将展开的第五阶段NRP下，改进工程范围亦将扩大，以更好支持年长者居家安老。例如，提升工程将包括更多年长者友好设施与特色，以改善年长者的社交、心理与身体健康。有关这一新阶段NRP的时间表与实施安排的更多信息，将在准备就绪时公布。 为所有新加坡人建设包容住家 国家发展部与建屋发展局致力于建设包容住家，以满足所有新加坡人多元的住屋需求与预算。我们将继续让公共住屋保持可及，并提升住家与邻里的宜居性，让年长者能在社区中优雅、安全地安老。 发布机构：国家发展部与建屋发展局 日期：2024年3月5日 [1] 适用于现场条件限制、无法安装直线型扶手的单位 [2] 组屋业主可能须支付其他必要的工程相关费用。 附件A、B及C