On a quiet Sunday morning, 30 October 2022, Yio Chu Kang SMC came alive with purposeful energy. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Lawrence Wong paid a ministerial community visit, unveiling plans to transform the estate into Singapore’s first fully dementia-friendly constituency by 2025.
Among the many thoughtful initiatives introduced that day, one stood out for its simplicity and impact, a little red button – the Personal Alert Button (PAB) developed by iWOW Technology Limited, a local tech company dedicated to helping seniors age in place safely.
During his visit, DPM Wong announced that 80 seniors across Blocks 626 and 641 in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 will be receiving the PAB as part of a pilot. With just one press, the button connects seniors in distress to immediate support—either staff at the nearby Senior Activity Centre or CareLine, a 24/7 tele-support hotline by Changi General Hospital. It is proven solution that makes a difference between timely help and prolonged distress.
DPM Wong also noted that there’s “potential for these projects to be scaled up
and implemented in other estates,” pointing to broader possibilities for community-based eldercare.
Mr Yip Hon Weng, MP for Yio Chu Kang, emphasised that as a mature estate with around 40% of residents above 65 years, the need for more such eldercare solutions here.
“We are heartened to have the opportunity to showcase our Eldercare IoT Solution to DPM Wong,” said Mr. Raymond Bo, CEO of iWOW. “Hopefully, our little red buttons will one day be a common feature in homes across Singapore, helping to keep our seniors and vulnerable communities safe.”
What makes the PAB special is how it blends technology with empathy. Also, there are no cameras, no complicated screens & interfaces. It has a battery life of up to five years, and even allows 2-way voice calls — all while being user-friendly enough for seniors to use confidently. Since 2019, iWOW has deployed close to 20,000 units of the button, a sign of both demand and trust.
This pilot in Yio Chu Kang is just one piece of a broader, and more thoughtful transformation of the neighbourhood. Other dementia-friendly features being rolled out include:
-
Wayfinding murals at void decks, designed by students and paired with QR codes offering lifestyle tips
-
An assisted living facility with fall detection systems and teleconsultation rooms
-
Enhanced infrastructure such as colour-zoned HDB blocks and clearer signage to support independent navigation
All of this is part of a wider vision under the Forward Singapore Care Pillar, focused on strengthening healthcare and social support for an aging population.
Ultimately, what stood out that day wasn’t just the innovation on display—it was the shared commitment to ensuring that seniors can age in place safely and with dignity, and most importantly in the communities they know and love.
