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SINGAPORE \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
The <\/p>\n Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme<\/p>\n <\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Eligible private property households \u2013 at least one household member must be Singaporean \u2013 will receive $1,200 in vouchers to offset 75 per cent of the installation cost for seven types of fittings.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the remaining $600 you can keep, and you can use when you decide to install more if you need it,\u201d Mr Chee said at a Chinese New Year celebration with residents of Braddell View condominium, which is within his ward in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.<\/p>\n This proportion of subsidy is lower than what is offered to HDB residents, whose subsidies range from 87.5 per cent for those in executive flats to 95 per cent for those in one- to three-room flats. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The extension of the programme<\/p>\n <\/a> to private home residents was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at <\/p>\n Budget 2025<\/p>\n <\/a>, more than a decade since EASE was introduced. He said the scheme will be available to these residents for three years, until 2028.<\/p>\n