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Policy research

Help the Aged supports high-quality research for the purposes of informing its policy positioning on older people and to support its campaigns on issues that are important to older people.

Research projects

On average, five or six research projects are commissioned each year. Each project costs in the region of between £10,000 and £50,000 and has a timescale of between 3 and 12 months. Very occasionally external funding, for example with partners in the voluntary or corporate sectors, is identified for larger projects. Research priorities are identified by the Policy, Research and International Division and are submitted internally for consideration to the Research and Development Committee, chaired by the Divisional Director. Priorities normally relate to one or more of the following needs:

• To support the operations, strategic and policy directions of the Charity.
• To support specific campaigning/influencing work undertaken by the Charity.
• To highlight the views and circumstances of older people on specific issues.
• To monitor current government policy and practice on issues of concern.

Current research projects

Older People and Chiropody: This study explores what types of chiropody service provide social and preventative benefits to older people and economic benefits to the wider health economy. The research is being undertaken by the University of Plymouth in conjunction with the University of Northampton and is due to be published August 2005.

Falls - Understanding older people's views of falls prevention advice and testing ways to improve uptake of advice: This study to be carried out by the University of Southampton aims to find out what features of messages about falling older people find unacceptable (e.g. unclear, distressing, irrelevant, patronising) and how we can design more acceptable and effective messages.

Attitudes and experiences of older people in relation to end of life: This study undertaken at the University of Sheffield aims to explore the circumstances, experiences and preferences of older people in relation to end of life care. It then aims to suggest policy and practice recommendations for the improved care and support of older people who are approaching death, and for their carers in the UK.

Research on age discrimination: A two-year research project will commence in Spring 2004 to investigate how age discrimination is experienced by, and how it affects the lives of, older people. It will look at developing tools and strategies that will challenge ageist behaviour and promote a more age-inclusive society. The research is being undertaken by Bill Bytheway and colleagues at the Open University Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (part of the School of Health and Social Welfare), with the financial support of the Community Fund.