Older people - agencies and networks

You can find here details of agenices and networks which provide information and support and can also provide opportunities to share ideas and experiences. The lists are arranged alphabetically.

Agencies

Action on Elder Abuse
Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) works to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults and are currently the only charity working exclusively on this issue across the UK. AEA operates a helpline which provides information, advice and support to victims and others who are concerned about or who have witnessed abuse. 
 
Age UK
Age UK is a charity that aims to improve later life for everyone through information and advice, campaigns, products, training and research. The Age UK vision is for "a world in which older people flourish". The website is organised to provide information under a range of headings such as: health and wellbeing, travel and lifestyle; home and care. It also includes a section for being an older lesbian, gay or bisexual person. Campaigns run by Age UK aim to raise awareness and keep ageing issues in the public eye and in parliament. There are local groups as well as national charities for each of the UK countries:
Age Cymru
AgeNI
Age Scotland

British Geriatric Society
The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is a professional association of doctors practising geriatric medicine, old age psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurses, therapists, scientists and others with a particular interest in the medical care of older people and in promoting better health in old age. The BGS "uses the expertise of its members to inform and influence the development of health care policy in the UK and to ensure the design, commissioning and delivery of age appropriate health services". The website also includes sections for different professional groups and for special interests.

Centre for Policy on Ageing
The Centre aims to raise awareness of issues around all aspects of ageing and to support good practice through collaborative work. "In particular it is concerned with the analysis of public policy as it affects older people, research into related issues and the promotion of good practice in service design and provision". It provides an information service summarising and disseminating research evidence and good practice. Resources include the AgeInfo database and the National Database of Ageing Research. 

Counsel and Care
Counsel and Care is a national advice service "working with older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support". It is also active in influencing policy and campaigning.
 
Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity (PRIAE)
PRIAE works with BME elders and age organisations, policy makers, research bodies, healthcare providers and the voluntary sector in the area of ageing and ethnicity in the UK and across Europe. It has a role in policy, research, information and practice on: employment and income; health; social care and housing; pensions; quality of life.

UK Home Care Association (UKHCA)
This is the representative body for organisations that provide personal care, including nursing care, to people in their own homes. The Association represents over 1,900 members across the United Kingdom, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can also use the following resources to find details of other agencies.

Networks

Knowledge Network Scotland: Care for Older People Portal: Communities 
This portal provides information, resources and education for health and social care staff who support older people in Scotland. This section of the portal provides details of communities of practice and also links to a section on development and support for communities.

NHS Networks: Network finder
NHS Networks is a free resource that provides a home for networks to enable people to share ideas in order to support innovation and improvement in health care and services. The Network finder is a search mechanism for finding relevant networks.

RCN Older People Forum
This RCN forum is for all RCN members who work with and for older people in any setting. It is a dedicated online community containing news, features, and an area on the discussion zone.