Extending Wireless Alert Alarm System to Vulnerable Seniors Living Alone in Owner-occupied HDB Flats
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr David Hoe’s inquiry regarding extending the wireless Alert Alarm System (wAAS) to vulnerable seniors in owner-occupied HDB flats and available monitored emergency services. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat stated that the Housing and Development Board currently prioritizes wAAS for public rental housing due to hardware and operator resource requirements. Residents in sold flats may subscribe to commercial fall detection packages involving automated alerts to next-of-kin or trained care providers. Additionally, eligible seniors can utilize 24/7 technology-enabled monitoring under the Ministry of Health’s Enhanced Home Personal Care service, rolling out islandwide later this year. These initiatives support ageing-in-place by providing round-the-clock situational assessment and ambulance activation services for those in owner-occupied homes.
Transcript
32 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Government has considered extending the wireless Alert Alarm System, or an equivalent monitored emergency alert service to vulnerable seniors living alone in owner-occupied HDB flats; (b) if so, what are the constraints limiting such an expansion; and (c) if not feasible, what Government-supported alternatives with relevant home-based care and round-the-clock response services are available.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is currently focused on rolling out the wireless Alert Alarm System (wAAS) to seniors staying in public rental housing.
The setup of the wAAS involves not only the installation of physical hardware like the alert buttons but also ensuring that operators who are providing the round-the-clock response service have adequate resources to do so.
As part of our ongoing efforts to promote ageing-in-place, HDB has partnered with commercial vendors who work with care service providers to offer fall detection and response packages that residents living in sold flats may subscribe to. In the event of a fall, the fall detector would detect and automatically alert the next-of-kin or trained care service providers. The care service providers will assess the situation and activate an ambulance where necessary.
Eligible seniors living in sold flats may also tap on the 24/7 technology-enabled monitoring and response element for fall detection offered under the Ministry of Health's Enhanced Home Personal Care service, which will be rolled out islandwide later this year.