Home modifications that helps our elderly to live independently in their own homes.

With Singapore’s aging population, many elderly prefer to live independently in their own homes rather than at nursing homes. To ensure the safety and comfort of seniors at home, it’s important to consider home modifications that can make daily activities easier and reduce the risk of falls and other accidents. These are some suggestions that our elderly in Singapore can modify their homes to better suit their needs and lifestyles.

Living Space Adaptation

One of the important aspects of home modification for our elderly is to ensure that living spaces are adapted to their needs. This involve making changes to the layout of the home to reduce clutter, ensure that pathways are clear and wide enough for a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or walker.

Some common home modifications for living spaces include:

1) Installing Grab Bars and Handrails

Navigating the bathrooms, bedrooms and staircases can be pretty difficult for those with mobility issues so installing grab bars and handrails do help to provide support and stability.

We recommend using these grab bars for elderly depending on the layout of your home:

• Great for the Bathroom and Bedroom: Anti-Slip Handle Bar with Nylon Coating
• Great for the Bathroom: Detachable Space Saving Aluminium Toilet Frame Adjustable Height
• Great for Integrating Function and Style: Integrated Paper Holder Grab Bar, Integrated Shelf Grab Bar and Integrated Towel Grab Bar.

For HDB dwellers, you can apply for the installation of 8 or 10 grab bars under the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) program for first bathroom and/or within the flat; and installation of 6 grab bars for second bathroom.

2) Installing Slip-Resistant Flooring

Non-slip flooring in bathrooms and other areas would help to reduce the risk of falls. Water turns flooring surfaces into significant safety hazards. Slip-resistant tiles effectively reduce this risk without compromising on the aesthetic appeal or functionality.

If you are renovating your place or planning to renovate your place, putting in non-slip tiles would be ideal.

Tiles that carry an R10 rating offer a moderate level of slip resistance, making them suitable for bathroom floors. On the other hand, tiles with an R11 rating provide a higher degree of slip resistance, making them ideal for use in the shower area. Additionally, these tiles can also be safely used outdoors.

If you do not intend to do any renovation in the near future, here are some DIY options you could use:

• Anti-Slip Stick-ons: TENURA Anti-Slip Sticker for Bathroom & Toilet
• Self-Adhesive Anti-Slip Stickers: Home Use Self-adhesive Anti-Slip Sticker
• Anti-Slip Tile Sticker: 3M Bathroom Anti Slip Tile Sticker

For HDB dwellers, you can apply for slip-resistant treatment for existing floor tiles of up to 2 bathrooms under the EASE programme.

3) Installing Ramps

Ramps provide wheelchair accessibility so the elderly can move in and out of their homes with greater ease.

We recommend these ramps for homes.

• Wooden wheelchair ramp: Wooden Wheelchair Ramp with Anti Slip Surface Mat
• Foldable aluminium ramp: Aluminium Bi-Fold Ramp

If you are living in a HDB, there are 2 kinds of ramps that are offered under the EASE Programme. They are suitable for majority of the homes, even those with multi-steps.

• Portable Ramp: Suitable for homes that have sufficient entryway in front of their homes (i.e. corner units). These can be folded and kept away when not in use.
• Customised Ramp: These are customised based on the amount of available space in front of the homes.

And if a ramp is not a feasible option, you can consider putting in a wheelchair lift.

• Wheelchair Lift: It is costly and requires regular maintenance but there are subsidies you can apply for under a separate government scheme.

4) Installing Brighter Lighting

A well-lit home reduces the risk of falls and improve visibility. With the help of technology, elderly can now control the lights using their mobile phones or with a remote control.

Create a well-lit indoor environment using a combination of natural and artificial light. Incorporate bright and cool lighting for mornings and daytime, while opting for warm and dimmer lighting during evenings. This setup promotes the synchronization of the natural human circadian rhythm, enhancing the overall well-being and sleep patterns.

How do I apply for EASE?

Homes undergoing Home Improvement Programme (HIP) will be offered the EASE programme in conjunction with HIP. For those without HIP, you can apply directly to HDB. To apply, the flat owner must be a Singaporean (SC) and aged 65 years old and above and a wheelchair-user; or aged between 60 and 64 years old and requires assistance for daily living. More details on EASE programme can be found here.

Eligible flat owners can apply directly for EASE via: e-Service at this link, or on the Mobile@HDB app.

Small Changes can make a Big Difference

With some small changes around the house and support from the government, our elderly can live independently and comfortably in their own homes. By adapting living spaces to better suit the needs of our elderly, we can help promote healthy aging and improve their quality of life.