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The design, facilities and character of local communities are central concerns for older people and for Help the Aged. Many older people play active roles in their communities: as council and committee members, as long-standing residents, and as neighbours and friends.

We want suitable housing, well designed neighbourhoods, better transport links and accessible services. We want older people to be able to lead independent lives as involved members of their communities.

This section contains information about our policy position on:

• access to services;
• older people’s consumer rights;
• crime and fear of crime;
• housing;
• planning and design of communities; and
• transport issues.

Details of the Government's older people's housing strategy 'Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods', published in February 2008, can be downloaded from here.

Policy statements

Civic Engagement (June 2008)

The ageing population means a greater need for public and statutory authorities to work with older people in planning future services. In this policy statement, Help the Aged calls for a more flexible and innovative approach to engage with older people.

Participating in the Community and Activities (June 2008)

Older people continue to come up against barriers that prevent their participation in the community, learning new skills, or taking up a hobby. In this policy statement, Help the Aged calls on Government, Local authorities and service providers to enable greater access for older people to their communities and activieis in their local area.

Consultations

Putting Post Offices in Place for the Future (March 2007)

A policy response by Help the Aged to the Department of Trade and Industry's Postal Office Network Consultation.

The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration (August 2006)

Help the Aged submission on volunteering and older people, for the Treasury policy review on the future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration.

Reports

Towards Common Ground (May 2008)

This is the Help the Aged manifesto for Lifetime Neighbourhoods. It sets out a 10 point plan for ensuring that neighbourhoods do not design in ageism and are built to meet the needs of people of all ages.

On My Doorstep (May 2008)

This report explores a number of issues effecting the communities older people live in, including climate change, new technologies, shifting demographics and the design of the neighbourhood.

Forgotton Voices (April 2008)

What makes a city age-friendly? (2007)

A report by King's College London based in part on research by Ipsos MORI (see below) as London's contribution to the World Health Organization's Age-friendly Cities Project.

Ipsos MORI London report (2007)

The full London report by Ipsos MORI on research in London conducted by them on behalf of Help the Aged as part of the World Health Organization's Age Friendly Cities project.

Social Inclusion: Call for Action (April 2007)

As part of an EU funded project Age/inc: Transnational Exchange Project Social Exclusion, six workshops were held with older people to gather their views on key aspects of their lives. These included money, mobility, transport, local environment, crime, housing, regeneration, and health and social care.