Enhancing MSO's OneService App and "Help Neighbour" Function to Facilitate Locating and Helping Seniors with Dementia
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Miss Rachel Ong's suggestions to enhance the OneService app with location-based SMS notifications for missing seniors with dementia and to expand the "Help Neighbour" function to mobilize community assistance. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee clarified that push notifications are preferred over SMS as they can transmit vital visual information like photographs of missing persons. He noted that the app already broadcasts alerts to users in specific vicinities through a partnership with Dementia Singapore to help locate vulnerable individuals. The Minister stated that the Ministry will study the feasibility of using the app to coordinate volunteer responses with social agencies, as this involves a different operating model. Meanwhile, he encouraged interested residents to explore volunteering opportunities through SG Cares and the Silver Generation Office.
Transcript
49 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider enhancing the location-based reports on the Municipal Services Office's OneService app for missing seniors who have dementia by including location-based SMS notifications.
50 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the OneService app's "Help Neighbour" function will be enhanced to facilitate residents who are keen to help others within their community, such as to alert on what help is needed and how they can help; and (b) if so, when will this function be enabled and released.
Mr Desmond Lee: The "Help Neighbour" function in the OneService (OS) App was launched in September 2021 by the Municipal Services Office (MSO), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), to make it easier for residents to alert MSF and AIC about persons who may be in need of assistance. These persons include, cardboard collectors, rough sleepers, tissue paper sellers and vulnerable seniors.
In February 2023, MSO partnered Dementia Singapore to help broadcast its reports of missing persons with dementia via the OS App. For each missing person submitted via the Dementia Singapore's platform, the same information is broadcast via the OS App's push notification to OS App users who reside within the town of the missing person's last seen location. The notification contains photographs and details of the missing person.
We have previously assessed the option of location-based Social Media Service (SMS) notification and decided not to proceed with this mode as the OS App's push notification can avail relevant information, such as photographs of the missing person, which is not possible via SMS notifications.
The OS App is designed, primarily, to route feedback and replies between individual users and agencies. The Member's suggestion would entail a different operating model, that is, sharing information about specific residents, who need help, with OS App users; mobilising volunteers; and tracking their action. This requires more than just an enhancement to the OS App. We will study the Member's idea with the social agencies on its feasibility. In the meantime, residents who are keen to help their community may wish to take up volunteering opportunities through SG Cares and the Silver Generation Office.