Help the Aged
Help the Aged was a United Kingdom based international charity founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole to help disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. It merged with Age Concern in 2009 to form Age UK.
Organisation and campaigns
Help the Aged had national offices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As of 2005 the Charity employed over 1,800 people and had an income of £75 million per year.
The Charity was an active campaigner on a number of issues affecting older people including:
- Elder Abuse, 
- Poverty among older people
- Health and Social Care,
- Pensions and Benefits,
- Isolation and loneliness
On 26 June 2008, and after years of campaigning by Help the Aged, the British Government announced new legislation aimed at making Age Discrimination illegal. Equalities Minister Harriet Harman unveiled the first draft of the Equalities Bill in Parliament to outlaw discrimination through the provision of goods and services on the basis of age.
Help the Aged also conducted a high profile campaign on Fuel Poverty, which affects an estimated 3 million pensioners in the UK. A household is deemed to be in fuel poverty when more than 10% of its income is spent on heating the house to an adequate standard of warmth. Fuel poverty, caused by low income and non energy-efficient housing, is thought to be a main cause of excess winter deaths.
Research into Ageing
Research into Ageing is a medical research trust that was the research arm of Help the Aged. It operates The Disconnected Mind, a research project that seeks to improve the lives of older people by unlocking the causes of age-related mental decline.
In 2007, Help the Aged launched intune group, a new financial services brand. The service exists as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Charity and offers tailored financial services products including home, car and travel insurance. The Charity launched the initiative to remove age discrimination as a barrier to older people wishing to access certain financial products. Any profits generated by the company go towards the Charity's work.
In May 2008, Help the Aged and Age Concern England announced plans for the two charities to merge. Following consultation, this was confirmed in September, when Dianne Jeffrey was confirmed as the new chair of trustees.
The merged charity - known initially as Age Concern and Help the Aged and now branded Age UK - was formed on 1 April 2009.
- Elder abuse
- Health & Social Care
- Pensions & Benefits
- Age Discrimination
- Fuel Poverty
- The Disconnected Mind
- LV= brands new insurance product for over 50's market Creative Match, 30 April 2007
- Fundraising UK article, retrieved 22 Oct 2008
- Community Care article, retrieved 22 Oct 2008
- Third Sector, retrieved 12 March 2009
- The Help the Aged web site
- Cows 'n' Things, Help the Aged's ethical gifts site
- Saddest Number appeal to help end the isolation and loneliness of older people
- The Disconnected Mind appeal raises funds for research into conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- The intune group web site
- HelpAge Canada web site
- Help the Aged Campaigns
- Research into Ageing
- MHA is a charity providing care, accommodation and support services for older people throughout Britain