New initiative to monitor seniors’ health remotely to ensure timely care and support

SINGAPORE – A new initiative being trialled aims to allow caregivers to remotely monitor the health of vulnerable senior citizens, such as those living on their own, ensuring they receive more timely care and support.

Under the Remote Monitoring and Support Programme for Seniors, seniors use devices like oximeters and blood pressure monitors to measure their vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure daily. The devices have wireless capabilities to transmit the data in real time to the Caregiving Welfare Association’s (CWA) care team.

Caregivers can intervene if the readings are unusual, or if the seniors fail to record such measurements. This allows for proactive monitoring of the seniors’ health, reducing hospitalisation while allowing them to age in their own homes rather than in aged care facilities.

Under the programme, devices will also be used to monitor those at higher risk of falls.

This was announced at the Caregiving Fest, an event held at Sengkang Grand Mall on Sept 21 for caregivers and seniors to engage and connect.

Speaking at the event, CWA executive director Steven Yeo cited the example of an unemployed amputee whom he identified as Mr Tung, who lay helpless for 13 hours after a fall before being found by a CWA caregiver who then sent him for urgent medical care.

“Mr Tung’s experience underscores the importance of remote monitoring. Had he been equipped with remote health monitoring, his distress could have been detected earlier, preventing such a prolonged period of suffering,” Mr Yeo said.

In 2023, there were more than 78,000 seniors aged 65 and above living alone in Singapore.

Mr Yeo told The Straits Times that about 20 seniors are trying out different devices to determine their suitability.

A White Paper on the viability of the initiative and the solutions used will be published after the testing period, which started a month ago and is expected to last another five to six months, he said.

Mr Yeo said he hopes the programme, which is expected to be rolled out in 2025, will be able to support at least 50 seniors in its first year. The association is hoping to raise between $100,000 and $150,000 per year to support the initiative.

Separately, a Community Health Post to allow seniors to measure their vital signs daily at CWA’s centre in Ghim Moh will be launched in October.

“These readings will be recorded and analysed by our nurses, enabling us to provide timely advice and appropriate next steps, ensuring that even those in good health receive the care they need to maintain their well-being,” Mr Yeo said.

CWA is also partnering with independent counselling service Listen Without Prejudice on a podcast series about the stresses of caregiving, titled This is What Caregiver Stress Feels Like.

Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann, who attended the Caregiving Fest, which also marked CWA’s 20th anniversary, said these initiatives provide crucial support for vulnerable and solo-living seniors.

The initiatives “provide much-needed healthcare support closer to where they live, making care more accessible and convenient by leveraging digital health solutions, ensuring they receive timely care and support”, she added.

She pointed to other efforts to help seniors here age in place as the Republic’s population ages, such as community care apartments.

The first batch of such senior-friendly housing, where residents can opt for care services, is expected to be completed in Bukit Batok West Avenue 9 by October.