Assistive technologies help residents live independently, safely, and comfortably in their homes. One example of such technology is the fall detection system.
Falls are a common health risk for older adults. In Singapore, about one-third of those aged 65 and above have experienced a fall, with 40% of these falls leading to deaths from injuries. To help address this, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) piloted fall detection systems in selected Queenstown flats. These sensors work quietly in the background to detect falls and automatically alert family members or caregivers.
Following the successful trial in Queenstown, HDB has arranged for commercial vendors to offer fall detection packages to interested households across Singapore. To make these systems more affordable and give seniors more choices, HDB is collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to review and expand the list of vendors under the Enhanced Home Personal Care (HPC+) programme, which also offers subsidies of up to 80% for fall detectors.