The Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme has seen almost 74,000 households applying for the scheme, reported TODAYonline.
Aimed at enhancing the safety and comfort of seniors living in HDB flats, the scheme was introduced in July 2012 and allows for the installation of fittings like ramps, grab bars and slip-resistant treatment to floor tiles in bathrooms.
The government offers a subsidy of up to 95 percent of the overall cost of improvement works for flats under EASE.
The Housing Board noted that about 28,600 households applied directly for the scheme, while 45,000 opted for EASE along with the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) – a scheme which helps resolve common maintenance problems of residents living in HDB flats built before 1986 and have not undergone any upgrading.
In August 2014, HDB lowered the age criteria for EASE to 65 from 70 years old, allowing for another 5,300 direct applicants to be eligible, according to HDB data.
The programme was also enhanced last year, allowing slip-resistant floor treatment and grab bars to be installed in a second toilet.
The enhancement benefitted 24,000 households, of which 73 percent opted for it along with HIP.
Image source: HDB
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
