Nursing homes will get clearer and enhanced licensing standards by 2015, said Minister of State for Health Amy Khor in Parliament on Tuesday.

The new licensing conditions will spell out specific clinical standards in areas such as oral hygiene, skin care and falls management. The enhanced standards will also look at the emotional and social well-being of nursing home residents.

A set of the new standards have been drafted by a committee comprising nursing home operators and healthcare professionals.

In the months ahead, the Health Ministry will engage the nursing home sector to discuss the standards in greater detail.