SINGAPORE – Seniors living in private homes can soon take their turn to tap a subsidised scheme to outfit their homes with ageing-friendly features like grab bars and slip-resistant flooring, from April 1.
Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme
will be gradually offered to more than 80,000 households in private homes, starting with those that have household members aged 80 and above, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat on Feb 22.
Those aged 60 to 64 who require assistance with at least one activity of daily living such as bathing, going to the toilet and eating can also tap the scheme in the first round.
Under the programme, previously available only to Housing Board flat dwellers, seniors can install ageing-friendly fittings in their homes with the amount of government subsidy provided dependent on the type of home they own.
Eligible private property households – at least one household member must be Singaporean – will receive $1,200 in vouchers to offset 75 per cent of the installation cost for seven types of fittings.
For example, if the total cost of installing grab bars and slip-resistant flooring treatment is $800, seniors would need to pay only $200 out of pocket.
