100,000 more households eligible for elderly-friendly upgrades: HDB

SINGAPORE — The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has announced that it will be expanding the EASE programme — designed to enhance the safety and comfort of seniors living in HDB flats — to 100,000 more elderly homes.

Under the programme, which was launched in July 2012, home owners can choose from a range of elderly-friendly fittings like slip-resistant treatment for bathroom floor tiles and grab bars and ramps to help elderly family members move around their flats with ease.

From Aug 1, Singapore citizen households with an elderly family member at least 65 years old and above, or aged between 60 and 64 years old and who requires assistance for at least one of the activities of daily living listed under the programme, will be eligible for EASE via direct application.

Prior to this change, the age requirement had been 70 for the former case and 65 to 69 for the latter.

In addition, for households with more than one toilet, the provision of these fittings has now been extended to the second toilet.
To help households foot the bill for the upgrades, the Government will continue to provide a subsidy of up to 95 per cent of the total cost. This means Singapore citizen households need only pay between S$125 and S$312.50, depending on flat type.

For more information on the programme, the public may also visit the HDB InfoWEB or call EASE toll-free hotline at 1800-9332990 from 8.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays).