Patient UK has information leaflets on a large number of diseases and illnesses and an extensive directory of patient patient support and self help groups. In addition, our extensive web directory lists many other sites which provide information and support on specific illnesses and issues.

Below are links to large or general sites that cover the health of older people.

 Age UK

The Age UK Group works to improve later life for everyone by providing life-enhancing services and vital support.

 Pensions, planning and retirement

Information from Directgov on a wide range of topics relevant to older people.

 Prevention package for older people resources

Information from the Department of Health designed to support PCTs, SHAs and local authorities in prioritising and effectively commissioning services that support the health, well-being and independence of older people.

 Keep on the road for longer

Information from the Department of Health on a range of health checks and services are available locally for the over 50s, ranging from eye tests to flu vaccinations.

 50+Health

A site aimed at the health of the over 50s. Provides free professional health information about major health conditions and documents the latest medical research. The site also lists all television relating to health - whether documentary or drama.

 Keep Warm Keep Well

Campaign from the Department of Health to give information and advice about staying well in winter by keeping warm.

  FirstStop

Provides support and advice for seniors as well as an information service for carers covering care, housing, finance and rights both through their website and their telephone Advice Line - 0800 377 7070.

 Mental Wellbeing and Older People

A patient guide to complement the NICE guideline of the same name for health professionals.

 Ricability

An independent consumer research charity providing free, practical and unbiased reports for older and disabled people.

 Third Age Trust

The Third Age Trust is the national representative body for the Universities of Third Age (U3As) in the UK. U3As are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.

 IndependentAge

Independent Age is a unique charity, providing lifelong support to older people on very low incomes.

 VisionCall

Provides a free home visit to carry out the free eye tests covered under the NHS.

See also the Patient UK care / carers page.

Further sources / more detailed information

Some non-UK sites

The following list popular non-UK health information sites with content aimed at the general public. They are mainly from the US. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included but these large sites are comprehensive.

• Non-UK disease / illness sites
• Non-UK self-help / support group sites

More detailed medical information

The following list online sources of more detailed medical information, mainly from the UK. These sites are mainly aimed at health professionals, but are of interest to all. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included, but information about most medical topics can usually be found.

• PatientPlus - hundreds of medical reference articles provided by Patient UK.
• Evidence Based Medicine - such as from Clinical Evidence, The Cochrane Library, etc.
• Database of UK Clinical Guidelines - from NICE, SIGN, etc.
• Medline - abstracts available from thousands of journals.
• Sites listing free online medical textbooks and journals.
• Sites listing free medical images - pictures, atlases, anatomy, skin diseases, etc.