Singapore – Elderly people living in private houses will soon be replaced. Use the subsidy system to equip your home with elderly-friendly equipment such as handrails and non-slip floors; From April 1st.

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Enrichment for Active Seniors (EASE) Program

National Development Minister Thi Hong Tat said on February 22 that it would be provided in phases to more than 80,000 households in private residences, starting with households with household members aged 80 and over.

People aged 60 to 64 who need help with at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing, toileting or eating, will also be eligible for the scheme in the first round.

This program was previously only available to Housing Board apartment residents; Government subsidies are provided to elderly people depending on the type of housing they own, and they can install elderly-friendly fittings in their homes.

qualified personal property Household – At least one household member must be Singaporean – will receive a $1,200 voucher to offset 75 percent of the installation cost of the seven fittings.

For example, if the total cost of installing handrails and non-slip floor treatments is $800, a senior would only have to pay $200 out of pocket.

“Then, you can keep the remaining $600 and use it if you decide to install more if needed,” Mr Chee said at a Lunar New Year celebration with residents of Braddell View Condominiums in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC constituency.

This subsidy rate is lower than the subsidy provided to HDB residents, which range from 87.5 percent for residents of executive apartments to 95 percent for residents of one- to three-room apartments.

Program extension

The application to private home residents was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

2025 budget

It has been over 10 years since EASE was introduced. He said the scheme would be available to these residents for three years; 2028.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) announced on February 22 that the program will be introduced in phases to decentralize the installation process.

After the first round on April 1st, eligibility will be expanded to include seniors aged 70 and over from July 1st, and seniors aged 65 and over from October 1st.

Eligible households will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for the program. If the application is successful, households will be able to engage pre-qualified contractors to install available senior-friendly equipment.

After subsidies, prices range from $16.35 for a bidet spray to $158.05 for a handrail.

Richard Hsu, 79, a retired surveyor, said he would most likely opt for grab bars and would install them in the three bathrooms in his Braddellview condominium apartment.

Sue, who saw the equipment at the event, said she is currently using the towel rack in the bathroom as a support.

“The right one here looks very durable,” he said, adding that the subsidized price of $130.80 for eight grab bars is reasonable.

Mrs Premila Krishna, 78, said the announcement came at a good time as she had been considering installing grab bars in toilets and kitchens to reduce the risk of falls.

“Sometimes when I go to the bathroom and I’m tired, I look for something to support me,” she said.

The housewife said she doesn’t have any mobility issues at the moment, but will opt for subsidized handrails, railings and non-slip floor treatments as a precaution.

The EASE program was launched in July 2012 for HDB residents. The plan includes 11 improvements, some of which are not currently available in private residences, such as wider toilet entrances and lower curbs at toilet entrances.

MND said the various offerings take into account the popularity of items under the EASE program for HDB residents, as well as items that require less customization as private properties vary in size and layout.

As of January 2025, approximately 340,000 households are using this system.