Improving later life
Age UK was one of three charities that benefited from our first ever Facebook campaign Pass the Pennies. Facebook users passed virtual pennies around the social media site and each virtual penny was matched with a real one.
Did you know that half of all older people – around 5 million – say that TV is their main form of company, while 500,000 people in later life spend Christmas Day alone?
Age UK believes that age needs respect. It needs kindness and sometimes it needs help. Because there is strength in numbers, Age Concern and Help the Aged have joined forces to become Age UK.
They have a vision of a world in which older people flourish – unlike the 1.2 million who say they feel trapped in their own home. Age UK works in partnership with our national (Age Cymru, Age NI and Age Scotland) and local partners to improve later life for everyone through a range of activities, including:
Campaigning
Public Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns teams raise awareness of the situation faced by many older people and keep ageing issues in the public eye and in parliament. The campaign issues can vary, from calling for reform of the care system to trying to improve the bus route in our local community.
Research
Age UK is the only UK charity to focus research funds exclusively on later life. The research they fund is providing answers and they’ve already seen significant breakthroughs in dementia, falls prevention, stroke and incontinence, to name a few.
Information and advice
Growing older doesn’t come with a manual, so if you need information or advice on anything from health to housing, call the free national information line on 0800 169 6565. It’s open 365 days a year from 8am to 7pm.
Publications
Age UK also publishes impartial and informative factsheets and advice guides, policy papers and a range of books: www.ageuk.org.uk/publications
