Lianhe Zaobao
2026-09-12
Reported by Guo Yuenan
Reported by Huang Shiyu
An elderly female resident fell while showering in her Community Care Apartment in Bukit Batok. She repeatedly pressed the emergency call button in the toilet for help, but received no response. She had no choice but to endure the pain and crawl to the entrance of her home to open the door and call for help. Only then did a neighbour help call an ambulance for her. The ordeal lasted about two hours from start to finish.
The resident is 85-year-old Su Fulai. Her second daughter, Hu Meifeng, 62, a retiree, told Lianhe Zaobao that her mother had been living alone in Harmony Village@Bukit Batok Community Care Apartments for about two years. At around noon on Sept 2, her mother went to take a shower as usual, but accidentally fell in the toilet and was unable to get up.
Hu said that her mother felt intense pain around her hip and could only use her walking stick with difficulty to press the red emergency call button in the toilet for help. However, the system only gave her an automated voice response. According to Hu, her mother was completely naked, cold and helpless at the time, yet no one came to check on her for a long time. “At one point, she thought she was going to die there.”
Hu said her mother later endured the severe pain, crawled slowly along the floor, and finally managed to move to the front door. However, the entrance door of the flat was very heavy and could not be pushed open easily. Su used all her strength to press the door handle down with her walking stick and successfully opened the door to call for help. Four neighbours heard her cries for help and quickly called an ambulance, which took her to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
Located along Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, Harmony Village@Bukit Batok Community Care Apartments is among the first Community Care Apartments jointly launched by the Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Health and Housing and Development Board in 2021. The apartments have lease periods ranging from 15 to 35 years. The 15-storey development has 169 units, with prices ranging from $35,000 to $64,000. The units adopt an assisted-living concept, providing housing options for seniors aged 65 and above that combine living and care arrangements.
Elderly residents are required to purchase the basic service package for Community Care Apartments, which includes 24-hour emergency services and specially planned community engagement activities. The community manager also helps residents arrange necessary care services and resolve simple home maintenance problems. Residents can also purchase additional care services according to their individual needs, including medical escort, laundry and meal delivery services.
Regarding the emergency response mechanism within the Community Care Apartments, Hu expressed strong dissatisfaction. She believes that the emergency call system should not rely solely on machines. Once an elderly resident seeks help or is unable to clearly explain the situation, staff should personally go to the unit to check on the resident. She said the current entrance-door design is unsuitable for elderly people, and her mother had been injured several times when the heavy door rebounded after she tried to open it.
Hu said her mother spent $50,000 to purchase a 15-year lease and also has to pay a monthly service fee. Given what happened, she said it was difficult to accept. She revealed that her mother has undergone hip surgery and is recovering in hospital but is still unable to get out of bed. The management of the Community Care Apartments has yet to visit her to check on her or offer support. “I hope the management will review the emergency response procedures and safety facilities to ensure the safety of elderly residents.”
Harmony Village@Bukit Batok Community Care Apartments is currently operated by Vanguard Healthcare. In response to media queries, the group said this was an “isolated incident” and that it was currently reviewing the circumstances. The group also said it was keeping in contact with Su Fulai and her family and providing support.
Reported by Guo Yuenan
Reported by Huang Shiyu
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