Seniors' Health

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 Concern

The National Council on Ageing. Aims to promote the well-being of all older people, and involve them in all aspects of society.

 Direct Gov

Directgov is the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information. Includes a section for over 50s that covers issues such as employment, learning and skills, health and well-being, money and pensions, home and community, travel and transport, bereavement.

 Prevention package for older people

From the Department of Health The prevention package raises the focus on prevention as a means of ensuring good health, well-being and independence in later life, by promoting and encouraging uptake of comprehensive health and social care services for older people. The prevention package: brings together information on existing health 'entitlements' including sight tests, flu vaccination and cancer screening; promotes best practice around falls prevention and effective fracture management; introduces measures to improve access to affordable footcare services; updates national intermediate care guidance; summarises existing progress on audiology and telecare.

 Keep on the road for longer

A range of health checks and services are available locally for the over 50s, ranging from eye tests to flu vaccinations. This leaflet from the Department of Health gives details of current entitlements and services you may be able to access, and when. This information is part of the Department of Health's contribution to the government's ageing strategy.

 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 tohealth - 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 national guideline for health professionals called Mental Wellbeing and Older People.

 Help the Aged

Provides practical support and advice to help older people live independent lives, particularly those who are frail, isolated, or poor.

 Ricability

Consumer information on products and services for elderly and disabled people. Products are tested and WHICH? style information is provided to help consumers make better choices of equipment they need.

 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.

 IndependantAge

IndependentAge, is the new brand name of The Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association. The organisations main aim is to help older people on low incomes to live with dignity and peace of mind by providing:

• a regular extra income
• grants for emergencies
• equipment to aid independence
• the support and friendship of our volunteers
• nursing and residential care and help with fees

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, Clinical Knowledge Summaries, 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.