Monday, December 16, 2013

Raymond Anthony Fernando’s letter to the press: Government should subsidise installation of CCTV cameras in homes of elderly


My letter on the above matter is published in MediaCorp’s Today newspaper today, Monday 16th December 2013.

Our doctors are seeing more elderly citizens who suffered a fall in their homes, which has contributed in some ways to the crunch in hospitals and rehabilitation centres.

Elderly folk with mobility problems and who are alone when their children go to work are at greater risk of falls. Although many people consider their homes safe, most accidents occur at home.

Generally, most of our senior citizens would prefer to be with their family than to spend their twilight years in nursing homes. There has thus been discussion on how to support them.

As several public housing blocks are being fitted with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras near the lifts to improve security for residents, I suggest that the Government also subsidise the installation of CCTV cameras in homes of elderly citizens if the families concerned are agreeable to this enhanced safety measure.

A sensor could be placed near the CCTV cameras, and the video and audio feed could be transmitted to the family members’ mobile phones or other gadgets.

If the elderly relative falls, an SOS signal or alert message could be immediately sent to them.

A home monitoring system will thus allow us to use technology to help us help ourselves.

Raymond Anthony Fernando


 

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