Nursing homes told CNA that they will work closely with the authorities to ramp up measures if needed, such as suspending outdoor activities and increasing water intake for residents.
HAZE SHELTERS TO PROVIDE REFUGE
ECON Care Residence on Henderson Road, for instance, has designated haze shelters fitted with air filters and exhaust fans to provide refuge for the most vulnerable residents.
The air filtration system in the shelters circulates fresh air in a closed loop, meaning that air purifiers are not required in these rooms and can be used in other areas of the nursing home.
“When the haze situation worsens, for example, when the PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) level goes above 150, that’s when we will start to utilise the haze shelters,” said ECON Healthcare Group (Singapore)’s chief executive officer Ong Hui Ming.
“Typically we will care for seniors with chronic diseases, lung diseases and respiratory conditions in the haze shelter.”