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Policy statements 
Briefings 
Consultation responses 
Reports 
Articles

Older people need access to a range of services as they live their lives. These include health services, banking and financial services, shops, post offices, religious and community facilities, and opportunities for work, learning and leisure.

Older people share many of these services with younger age groups, so they often find themselves campaigning alongside these groups for better local services.

However, whilst older people share the same desire for the better services as the rest of the community, their patterns and ways of accessing services often differ from those of other groups. It is therefore important that older people's needs are specifically taken into account when planning for accessible services.

In this section you will find information on the work being done by Help the Aged to promote better access to services for older people.

Policy statements

Assistive Technology (October 2007)

This policy statement looks at the various ways assistive technology can benefit older people and states Help the Aged's position and calls to Government.

Older consumers (April 2006)

This position statement outlines the strength of older people as consumers and the need to end discrimination in the provision of goods and services.
 

Briefings

Post Office Card Account (April 2006)

Help the Aged briefing on the Post Office Card Account and the Government's announcement that the account will not be continued after 2010.

Post Office Urban Network Reinvention (2004)

Top ten tips for senior citizen forums and pensioner groups faced with the potential closure of urban post offices under the Urban Reinvention programme.

Urban Reinvention Programme (October 2004)

The Charity's response to the Trade and Industry Committee enquiry on the Urban Reinvention programme, which has closed thousands of post offices in urban areas.

Closed Urban Post Offices (October 2004)

A Help the Aged Briefing Note on the Urban Reinvention programme of post office closures.

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DCMS inquiry on public libraries (April 2005)

Help the Aged response to the Department of Culture Media and Sport consultation on the use of public libraries by older people. 

Best Value Performance Indicators 2005/6 (August 2004)

A consultation response on Best Value Performance Indicators of 2005/6 for local authorities standards.

Reports

Travel Access and Older People (September 2006)

This report aims to assess to what extent the needs of older people are being considered in local transport planning. It is a follow-up to the report 'In the Right Place' (see below), which was published in 2005.

In the right place (2005) 

Guide to those seeking to plan accessible services and transport strategies, with older people in mind.

All well in Amwell? (July 2004)

A report on the effects of the Urban Reinvention programme and the closure of urban post offices on older residents, examining a case study from Amwell, North London.

Older people and regional assemblies (July 2003)

A report for regional bodies on key issues for older people and a model for how to involve older people in regional issues.

Services become more accessible (October 2004)

Article on the changes to the law to make facilities such as pubs and clubs, shops and swimming pools, restaurants and GP surgeries more accessible to everyone.

Post offices face life or death (October 2004)

Article welcoming the extra money announced by the Government to protect rural post offices.

Improving public services for older people (July 2004)

Article on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee publication on improving public services for older people.

Putting older people on the map (April 2004)

Article on the local council schemes to map the distribution and concentration of older people living in a particular region to facilitate planning.

Post Office closures (2004 and 2005)

Policy Update articles on Post Office closures.