Written answer by Ministry of National Development on extending wireless AAS to vulnerable seniors living alone in owner-occupied HDB flats

Question No: 701
Question by: Mr David Hoe

To ask 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.

Answer:

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 MOH's Enhanced Home Personal Care service, which will be rolled out island-wide later this year.