RCMA

69 Safer Homes with EASE Falls are a common cause of injury for seniors, and two in three falls among older adults happen at home. Create a safer and more comfortable living environment for your loved ones with HDB’s Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme. Under EASE, you can install grab bars and ramps, and apply slip-resistant treatment to your bathroom/ toilet floor tiles, at a highly subsidised price. Singapore Citizen (SC) households can opt for the EASE improvement items during HDB’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) or apply directly to HDB via EASE (Direct Application). Under EASE (Direct Application), SC households can qualify if they have a senior member in the family who is: • 65 years and above; or • Between 60 and 64 years, requiring assistance with at least one of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) The EASE improvement items are heavily subsidised, at up to 95% of the total cost, depending on your flat type. For example, the total cost of installing the first set of grab bars in a three-room flat is $480, but homeowners need to pay only $24 (before GST). As of 31 October 2019, more than 206,000 households have benefited from HDB’s EASE programme. What are the EASE improvement items? Grab bars , offered in a set, provide good grip and enable seniors to move safely within the flat. You can choose to install: • 8 or 10 grab bars in your first bathroom/ toilet, including the kitchen doorway; and • 6 grab bars in your second bathroom/ toilet Slip-resistant treatment enhances safety in the bathroom/toilet by reducing the risk of falls. It can be applied to the floor tiles of up to two bathrooms/ toilets. Ramps (single or multi-step) can be installed to negotiate level differences within your flat or at the main entrance. They are recommended for seniors who use wheelchairs. To apply for EASE (Direct Application), visit www.hdb.gov.sg/EASE-Application-eservice You may also call HDB’s Branch Service Line at 1800-225-5432 for assistance. Find out more about the EASE programme at www.hdb.gov.sg/EASE-Application Advisory HDB