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Details of some of the reports previously commissioned and published by Help the Aged:

The Impact of Council Tax on Older People's Income (2003) undertaken by New Policy Institute, published by Help the Aged 2003.

The report includes an analysis of the impact of Council Tax increases upon older people, problems associated with Council Tax Benefit and an exploration of reforms to the current system.

Older People Count. The Help the Aged Income Index for Older People in England and Wales (2003) Social Disadvantage Research Centre, Oxford University - published by Help the Aged 2003.

This report provides the best and most up-to-date data available relating to low income and reveals a unique picture of disadvantaged among older people in England and Wales. The report, which includes a CD-Rom, examines the numbers and rates of older people in income related benefits, illustrates the distribution of these populations by region, district and ward and compares the Help the Aged index with other measures of income disadvantage.

Older People in Socially Deprived Areas (2002) Thomas Scharf, Chris Phillipson, Allison E Smith, Keele University with Paul Kingston, University of Wolverhampton,  published in 2002 by Help the Aged.

This study which was supported by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) Growing Older Programme, explored the quality of life of older people living in the most deprived urban areas of England. The report highlighted problems relating to income, crime, environment and isolation.

Nothing Personal: Rationing Social Care for Older People: Nuffield Community Care Studies Unit, University of Leicester. Published by Help the Aged 2002.

This report looks at ways in which the chronic underfunding of social care is undermining the original intentions of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. Using evidence from older service users and their carers, as well as a range of health and social care professionals from six local authorities across England and Wales, the authors show how older people face barrier after barrier as they attempt to access care and maintain independence.

Age Discrimination in Public Policy: A Review of Evidence. Edited by Tessa Harding and published by Help the Aged in 2002.

This report brings together papers from seven researchers which together provide a comprehensive analysis of age discrimination in policy relating to education, employment, health care, social care, social security, transport and citizenship.

Surviving at the margins undertaken by University of the West of England (UWE), published by Help the Aged 2002.

This report details the breadth of work being undertaken with older people and offers an insight into the specific and complex needs of older homeless people.

It assesses the work of the Older Homelessness Partnership Programme, set up to fund
innovative projects to tackle older homelessness. The research offers good practice examples and concludes with a list of recommendations for voluntary and statutory agencies, including funding for user involvement and changes to the benefits system.

Sheltered housing and the resettlement of older homeless people, Imogen Blood, published by Help the Aged and the Housing Associations' Charitable Trust  (hact), November 2002.

Many older homeless people find themselves trapped in temporary accommodation because of a lack of suitable permanent supported accommodation, yet there is an over-supply of suitable sheltered housing. This report  provides a blueprint for the sheltered housing sector to work with older people who have a history of homelessness. The report shows that sheltered housing gives older homeless people the opportunity to have their own self-contained accommodation, alongside the support they need to sustain their home and independence.

The harassment and abuse of older people in the private rented sector undertaken by University of Bristol / UWE, published by Help the Aged 2003.

Many older people living in the private sector in England suffer abuse and harassment from their landlords, according to this report from Help the Aged. The report documents personal accounts of verbal, physical and financial abuse by landlords who use scare tactics, massive rent increases and obstructive behaviour to force older tenants to move. Any form of harassment or abuse of older people is intolerable and can be especially damaging in areas where the legal system often fails to protect them. The pursuit of legal remedies to such abuse is difficult, stressful and too expensive for the majority of older tenants.

This report highlights what older tenants need, and recommends that homelessness strategies set out clear plans to make the best use of private housing in order to meet local needs, while maintaining and improving standards.

The discharge of older homeless people from hospital, Imogen Blood, published by Help the Aged, 2003

This report describes cases where older people have been sent to homelessness departments in taxis long after the offices have shut and where, only at the point of discharge, have ward staff telephoned hostels to find out if there are vacancies.

The report suggests how statutory and voluntary agencies should work together in order to develop agreed protocols covering hospital discharge and outlines a number of the policy and service provision initiatives that have been developed around the UK. It highlights additional challenges and opportunities in providing effective services for older homeless people and offers a series of recommendations to health agencies, housing departments, social services and local authorities.

Journeys out of loneliness: the views of older homeless people, Kim Willcock, Help the Aged, 2004.

Isolation and loneliness are commonly felt among older people who are homeless. Social isolation often precedes homelessness and homelessness may intensify isolation. This report offers an honest account of older people's perceptions of both their needs and the solutions to their problems.

Dying in Older Age / End-of-Life Care (May 2005)

Based on articles from older people and a review of literature undertaken at Sheffield University, these two research reports examine the circumstances and experiences of older people who are dying. Among the recommendations are that dying, so often a taboo topic in life, should be recognised as an integral part of the life course. In that context, we should expect the same concern for quality and fairness as we do other life events. The reports are part of a larger programme of policy-influencing work that is currently on-going within the charity.

Quality of life in older age – messages from the Growing Older Programme (2005)

This report offers a lay summary of 24 research projects undertaken within the Growing Older Programme for the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC). The report, edited in consultation with a team of older people, highlights particular issues relevant to older people's quality of life. The research is being used to raise awareness among key policy-makers and practitioners of the priorities of older people.

AgeToday 4: Citizenship – the difference older people make (2005)

This is the final issue of AgeToday, a journal summarises research and comment from an older person's perspective. The issue looks at the essential roles that older people play from acting as carers to formal engagement within the political process. The report is being disseminated to local authorities and MPs.

Older People and Depression: A literature review undertaken by Mary Godfrey at Nuffield Institute for Health, University of Leeds. This piece of work focuses particularly on social risk and protective factors for depression in older age. The report was published in conjunction with Policy Press in 2004.

Older and Colder - The views of older people experiencing difficulties keeping warm in winter (2004): The report produced by Fay Wright at King's College, London seeks to offer an examination of the views, attitudes, perceptions and behaviour of older people who are in fuel poverty or who are concerned about heating their homes. The report offers an important new perspective on what should be done to ensure that older people in the UK live in warm homes during the winter months.

Older People and Chiropody: This report produced by Plymouth University and University College of Northampton explores the level of unmet need for foot-care among older people and examines the impact of reduced chiropody services on the lives of older people. The report is due to be published in August 2005.

Older peoples' views of falls prevention advice: how can we improve the uptake of falls prevention activities (2004): This study carried out by Yardley, L & C. Todd explored how best to communicate falls prevention advice to older people. The research offers recommendations to practitioners and service providers as to how to communicate their initiatives to older people.