We work with older people, older people's groups, local influencers, decision makers and service providers, to ensure that the specific needs of Northern Ireland's older population are recognised and addressed. We also provide a range of practical services aimed at empowering older people and supporting them in living full and active lives for longer.

Our priorities

Help the Aged Northern Ireland aims to campaign for change in areas affecting the lives of older people and provide support to the most disadvantaged older people in our community. We see our priorities as:

• Influencing Government policy and lobbying on issues important to older people, including older people's rights, health and social care, sustainability for the age sector, community safety, poverty, elder abuse and excess winter deaths.
• Continuing to support and develop the capacity, sustainability and independent voice of older people and older people's groups to speak up and campaign on issues important to them.
• Develop practical services, with a particular focus on older people who feel isolated or disadvantaged, to support them to remain independent in their own home.

Our services

SeniorLine
SeniorLine is the Charity's free telephone advice and advocacy service for older people, their relatives, carers and friends. The service aims to promote independence by offering advice and advocacy on issues including community care, residential care, benefits, housing and debt. Call 0808 808 7575 or visit the SeniorLine page

First Connect
This face to face service supports older people to access a range of services to help them live independently for longer and improve quality of life. Call 0808 808 7575.

SeniorLink
Our 24-hour telephone call response service helps people who feel vulnerable or at risk to live independently in their own homes. Call 0808 100 2435 or visit the SeniorLink page

HandyVan
HandyVan supports older people to remain independent and feel safer by providing security products, adaptations and minor repairs. Call 0845 026 1055 or visit the HandyVan page

Community development
We provide training, advice and support to older people's groups and networks across Northern Ireland. Through the 'Speaking up for our Age' programme, Help the Aged works with older people to develop local services and campaigns.

Grants programme
We administer a small grants programme for older people's groups, distributing money at a local level to projects run by older people themselves. We also work with communities to develop and fund services which meet the needs of local older people. Find out more about the Grants programme

Information Resources including Senior Agenda
We provide advice leaflets on topics like money and health, as well as a twice-yearly Northern Ireland magazine, Senior Agenda, featuring news and information aimed at older people. The latest issue can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.

Our campaigns

Help stop elder abuse
In Northern Ireland we are spreading the message to stakeholders and the public at a local level.
Visit the Elder Abuse campaign pages

Right to be safe, right to feel safe
Attacks on older people have led to a heightened fear of crime in Northern Ireland. Help the Aged is campaigning for a Community Safety Strategy for Older People.

Winter deaths and fuel poverty
Last year saw the highest excess winter deaths figure in Northern Ireland since 2000/01. Government research has drawn a link between fuel poverty and excess winter deaths. We lobby politicians to eradicate fuel poverty and to safeguard the lives of older people. 

Funding for the age sector
Many older people's forums in Northern Ireland receive little or no financial help for the valuable services and activities they provide. Help the Aged works to highlight the case for better funding for the age sector.

The older population in Northern Ireland

• There are over 296,000 people of pensionable age living in Northern Ireland - that's 16 per cent of the population.
• 28 per cent of pensioners in Northern Ireland live in poverty.
• One in five people aged 65 and over in Northern Ireland say they are often or always lonely.
• 23 per cent of older people in Northern Ireland do not receive the help they need to leave their home.
• 64 per cent of people agreed that older people are discriminated against as a result of their age.
• 63 percent of people of working age are not contributing to a non-state pension.

Issues affecting older people

Northern Ireland's older people face similar issues to those in England, Scotland and Wales:

• isolation and loneliness;
• poverty, pensions and benefits;
• health and social care provision;
• age discrimination; and
• personal/community safety.

Northern Ireland is also an ageing society. As people continue to live for longer, it needs to adapt to ensure that older people:

• have enough money to live on, not just survive;
• feel safe in their homes and communities;
• have access to services that they need;
• are able to live independently for as long as they want; and
• are recognised for the skills that they bring to the workforce.