Problem Scenario

The number of senior citizens living on their own in HDB estates has been increasing. There is also grave concern over the recent spate of death and serious injury cases involving senior citizens at home. To address this issue, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) has developed a simple Personal Alert Button (PAB) device that can be used by flat dwellers to call for medical help in an emergency. Govtech had trialled this device successfully in a pilot project involving senior citizens living in rental flats.

For more information about the PAB project, see https://www.developer.tech.gov.sg/products/categories/sensor-platforms-and-internet-ofthings/personal-alert-button/overview.html

The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs (MFSA) would like to implement the PAB solution in three mature HDB estates. This would help improve living conditions and social support for senior citizens as this has become an acute problem in ageing Singapore.

Table 1 shows the number of small HDB flats (and households) in three mature estates: Redhill, Macpherson and Chai Chee. A recent survey had been done to find out the level interest in the PAB programme. The minimum and maximum percentages in table 1 shows the range of percentages of households keen to participate in the programme.