Before an older parent returns home after a hospital stay, check how they will get from the drop-off point to the flat and reach the bathroom and bed. Ask the discharge team or occupational therapist which tasks need to be possible on the first day and which home changes are suitable for the person. Put the immediate arrangements on a separate list from work that will take longer to organise.
HDB’s Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme can help eligible households with selected fittings, subject to the scheme and site assessment. Check the direct application route if your household needs to explore it now. Plan the first week using arrangements your family and care team have actually confirmed.
- Walk the entrance, bathroom and bedroom routes.
- Ask the care team which tasks need help and which equipment is suitable.
- Check EASE eligibility and whether supporting documents are needed.
- Confirm who will be present when your parent first returns.
- Make a separate plan if fittings or equipment will arrive later.
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Start with the first trip home
Walk from the vehicle drop-off to the flat. Note the lift, steps, corners, door opening and any narrow area. Inside, follow the route from the front door to the first seat, toilet and bed. Write down where the person may need help based on the discharge guidance. Share measurements or photographs privately with the appropriate care team if asked.
An occupational therapist can help assess everyday activities and advise on equipment or adaptations suitable for the person. See Singapore General Hospital’s explanation of hospital occupational therapy. Ask the team whether there is a home assessment, caregiver training or another service relevant to the discharge. Do not try a new transfer technique or temporary fixture without appropriate guidance.
| Part of the trip | What to check | Who can help confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off to lift | Vehicle access and any steps or distance | Care team and family member doing pickup |
| Lift to front door | Width, thresholds and entrance layout | Care team or assessment provider |
| Entrance to toilet | Clear route, door access and suitable support | Occupational therapist or discharge team |
| First night | Bed access, agreed assistance and contact details | Caregiver and discharge team |
Back to contents · Next: Check EASE as one part of the plan
Check EASE as one part of the plan
HDB’s EASE overview sets out who qualifies, what items may be available and the direct application route. Check the household and flat details, the senior’s age and any supporting requirements. HDB’s application help page identifies circumstances in which a Functional Assessment Report is needed, including the specified 60-to-64 age group.
Confirm what can be installed at your flat and when. A ramp or grab bar needs to suit the actual layout and the user. Ask the care team about suitability and HDB about the applicable fitting and site process. If your block has HIP works planned, check which EASE route is relevant to your situation and whether the works align with your timeline.
Make a first-day list and a later-work list
The first list contains confirmed arrangements for entry, toileting, sleeping and caregiver support. The second contains items still awaiting an assessment, approval or installation. Give each pending item a person to follow up and a date to check again. If a first-day need remains unresolved, bring it back to the discharge team before relying on the home plan.
Back to contents · Next: Worked example with a threshold at the entrance
Worked example with a threshold at the entrance
A family expects an older parent to return the following week. At the visit home, it notices a raised threshold between the corridor and the flat. It also finds that furniture makes the route to the bathroom narrower than expected. These observations go to the discharge team with measurements where requested.
The family asks what support is needed on arrival and checks the EASE direct application process. It keeps the installation date provisional until confirmed. It asks the care team to advise on the immediate access plan, assigns one adult to meet the transport, and confirms who will stay during the first evening. Later, when a fitting is installed, the family checks how it should be used and updates the care plan.
Back to contents · Next: Organise the first evening around confirmed help
Organise the first evening around confirmed help
Write a short handover for anyone helping on the first evening. Include who will meet the transport, what time the main caregiver arrives, which supplies are ready and who to contact if the plan changes. Keep medication or mobility instructions in the form supplied by the care team. Check that everyone knows where to find them.
For the following days, assign someone to confirm the assessment or installation, someone to track appointments and someone to check whether the daily route is working as planned. If a planned caregiver becomes unavailable or an essential task is difficult at home, raise it with the care team. That information is more specific than saying the flat feels unsuitable, and it helps the team understand which part of the routine needs attention.
Back to contents · Next: Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I assume a ramp will be installed before discharge?
Check the actual assessment and installation timeline with HDB. Ask the discharge team to help plan for the first day if installation is still pending.
Should I buy a grab bar before speaking to the care team?
Ask what position and type of support fit the person’s needs. Check the installation route and suitability before committing to a fitting.
What can other family members do?
They can verify the entrance route, organise the contacts, and take responsibility for specific appointments or household tasks. Let the care team advise on hands-on assistance.
Back to contents · Next: Next steps and official sources
Next steps and official sources
Walk the arrival route, write down the three tasks your parent needs to manage on the first day and discuss them with the discharge team. Then check the HDB application route and record which arrangements are confirmed.