The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has responded to a viral Facebook post regarding an elderly man who was allegedly denied access to his flat on a daily basis in Kaki Bukit.

The authority said that the case is currently being looked into.

In an earlier Facebook post on Apr. 29, a member of the public, known as Tan, had shared his dismal encounter with the elderly man.

However, the Facebook post has since been taken down.

Allegedly locked out of house

Tan said that he saw the elderly man near Circuit Road and offered assistance to him as he noticed the latter limping and "out of breath".

After hearing that the man was hungry, Tan bought him food and decided to send him home to his HDB flat in Jalan Tenaga, Kaki Bukit.

That was when he discovered that the man did not have house keys nor a phone on him.

According to Tan, the man said that he has to sit outside and wait until his wife opens the door to let him in.

The 70-year-old, who reportedly said that he is suffering from kidney problems, has a son who is not staying with him.

A neighbour apparently told Tan that the elderly man would sit outside the house for nearly the entire day. The elderly man would allegedly "beg" his wife to let him in or give him food.

The neighbour also told the man that the man has problems controlling his bowels and had once defecated outside his house. They had to help clean him up.

When the weather is cold, neighbours claimed that he would be "sitting outside shivering".

When not outside his house, he is sometimes seen sitting at the bus stop or at the void deck, the Facebook post said.

Tan wrote that the neighbours have approached the Residents Committee, but did not know how else to help the man.

MSF aware, case will be looked into

In a statement issued on Apr. 29, MSF said that they are aware of the post about an elderly man who appears to face "medical and family issues."

The Silver Generation Office, the Agency for Integrated Care’s (AIC) outreach arm, is currently working closely with the Social Service Office @ Bedok to look into this case and connect the man and his family to relevant support.

They also urged people to call call the AIC hotline at 1800-650-6060, or the ComCare hotline at 1800-222-0000 if they come across other seniors who look like they need help.

Top photo via FB.