HomeWise › Blog › Home Safety Guide

Home Safety

Home Safety for Elderly Singapore — Complete Room-by-Room Guide

Updated June 2026 · 9 min read

Most elderly falls in Singapore happen at home — and most are preventable. This room-by-room guide covers the specific hazards in a typical Singapore HDB flat, the modifications that address each one, and which government subsidies (AIC SMF and HDB EASE 2.0) help pay for them.

Use this as a checklist: walk through each room with your elderly parent and tick off what's already in place. Start with the bathroom — it is responsible for the majority of home falls.

🚿

Bathroom & Toilet

Highest Risk

Wet floors, physical effort of sitting and standing, confined space. Responsible for the majority of elderly falls at home.

Grab bar beside toilet
Grab bar at shower entry
Grab bar inside shower
Non-slip mat in shower
Foldable shower seat
Raised toilet seat (if needed)
Night light near toilet
Contrast-coloured grab bars (easier to see)
Compare:Grab BarsShower ChairsAnti-Slip Mats

Subsidy eligible: AIC SMFHDB EASE 2.0

🛏️

Bedroom

High Risk

Night-time disorientation, low blood pressure when rising, and reaching for items are the main hazards.

Grab bar or pole beside bed
Bed rail for getting up safely
Motion-sensor night light
Non-slip mat beside bed
Clear path to bathroom
Medication stored accessibly
Phone or call button within reach
Furniture with rounded edges
Compare:Fall Detection Devices

Subsidy eligible: AIC SMF (bed rail, fall detection)

🍳

Kitchen

Medium Risk

Reaching overhead, bending to low cupboards, and wet floors near the sink are the main hazards.

Frequently used items stored at waist height
Non-slip mat in front of sink
Sturdy step stool with handle rail (if reaching needed)
Good task lighting over work surfaces
Easy-grip handles on pots and utensils
Automatic stove shut-off (for those with memory issues)
🚪

Corridor & Entrance

Medium Risk

Thresholds, uneven surfaces, and the transition from outside to inside (wet shoes on tile) are common hazards.

Remove or tape down loose rugs
Handrail along corridor if possible
Ramp over any door threshold (for walkers or wheelchairs)
Good lighting throughout
Seating near entrance to sit when removing shoes
Non-slip footwear storage area
Compare:WalkersWheelchairs

Subsidy eligible: HDB EASE 2.0 (ramp, handrail)

🛋️

Living Room

Lower Risk

Typically safer, but furniture arrangement and seating height matter more than most caregivers realise.

Sofa and chair arms within reach when standing
Seat height appropriate (knees at 90°)
Clear, wide pathways between furniture
Cables tucked away or covered
Remove glass coffee tables near seating
Firm, non-wheeled seating (avoid bar stools)

Subsidy Quick Reference

Two schemes cover most home safety modifications. Use both — they are separate programmes and can be combined:

SchemeCoversMax subsidyWho qualifies
AIC SMFDevices you purchase (grab bars, walkers, wheelchairs, fall detection)Up to 90%SC/PR aged 60+ or disability, income-tested
HDB EASE 2.0Installation (grab bars, ramps, anti-slip floor, handrails)Up to 95% (capped S$2,500)HDB flat owner, SC, resident aged 65+

Full AIC SMF guide · Full HDB EASE 2.0 guide

Get a Personalised Home Safety Plan

Tell HomeWise your loved one's situation and living environment — we'll recommend the right products room by room, flag subsidy eligibility, and build a 30-day setup checklist.

Build My Safety Plan →
Related guides & products
🚿 Grab Bars →🛁 Shower Chairs →🦽 Walkers →⌚ Fall Detection →💰 AIC SMF Guide →🏠 HDB EASE 2.0 →🛡️ Fall Prevention Tips →