Engaging with older people, particularly those who are socially excluded or at a disadvantage, is at the heart of everything that Help the Aged does.

The views of older people are at the centre of the organisation. They inform our lobbying and campaigning and help shape the services we provide. 

'I arrived [to visit my mother in hospital] to find her ‘tea’ consisted of sandwiches in a plastic pack which she could not open... no-one encouraged her to eat or drink – or noted if she did not.'

Our engagement strategy, Vocal Point, seeks to:

• reliably capture the genuine experiences of older people;
• provide us with a growing evidence base;
• ensure our services and campaigns are driven by the real needs of older people;
• keep us up-to-date with older people’s issues; and
• keep engagement with older people at the forefront of our minds.

Whether someone is worried about the poor quality of food their mother receives in her care home, or feels trapped in their house by the lack of local bus services, we will record their views and feed them back into our work. A regular briefing will summarise what we've heard.

It is a real privilege to listen, understand and help. 

Please feel free to contact us or to share your views on our discussion boards