More than 30 residents have signed up to use motorised scooters to get around Bukit Merah View estate as part of the 'Seniors on the Move' programme officially launched by Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Indranee Rajah on Saturday.

Four senior activity centres in the estate will get two motorised scooters each courtesy of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge. Senior citizens with mobility issues can use these scooters for free, to get to essential facilities like the food centre, market and clinics.

Ms Indranee noted that many of the elderly residents in the area also needed financial help in getting spectacles, walking sticks, wheel chairs and other assistive devices.

This can be done via the $50 million Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund, where elderly people living in three- room or smaller flats, or those with a household income less than $1,800, are eligible for a 90 per cent subsidy on devices that cost $500 or less. Some 40 seniors have signed up so far.

Efforts are also underway to create greater awareness for the fund in both Tanglin-Cairnhill and Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru constituencies said Ms Indranee. This will be done with volunteers from the residents committees and students.