Hook Older age comes with a lot of joy, more free time, and opportunities to focus on things that matter to us. However, many of us find ourselves facing new challenges, such as loneliness, digital exclusion, health concerns, and financial hardship. But there’s no need to struggle alone. There are multiple charities focused on providing assistance to older adults and the elderly alike for a variety of challenges.
We’ve collated 12 UK-based charities that look out for older people, whether you’re looking for support for yourself, a family member, or a loved one, or are researching charities to fundraise for.
In this guide:
- Why charitable support matters in later life
- 12 charities supporting older people
- Combating loneliness & elderly isolation
- Practical & financial support
- Health & specialist care
- Supporting independence & connection
- About the McCarthy & Stone Foundation
- How our homeowners support charities
- Explore McCarthy & Stone retirement communities
Why charitable support matters in later life
Support networks are key to helping us age well and with confidence - and there’s no shame in taking help when you need it.
Loneliness is a significant issue that many older people have to deal with. According to a 2024 report from Age UK, 1 in 14 people aged 65 and over report feeling lonely often. People living alone are more likely to feel lonely, and while those in retirement communities have more opportunities to socialise, it’s not uncommon to feel isolated from time to time - especially if family doesn’t live nearby. Loneliness can negatively impact both our physical and mental health, so it's important to prevent it as much as possible to fully enjoy retirement.
Digital inequality is another challenge that is only increasing as more of everyday life moves online. As of 2025, 1 in 3 people aged 60 and over report that their lives have become more difficult as a direct result of services being moved to digital platforms. While younger people tend to feel at home online, older people can feel left behind and excluded, finding it hard to access essential services like medical care and banking.
These are just two issues we face as we age. Accepting help, guidance, and compassion from charities empowers older people to stay connected, independent, and confident.
12 charities supporting older people
From overcoming loneliness and financial hardship among the elderly to providing medical support and fostering independence, here are 12 charities committed to looking out for older people.
Combating loneliness & elderly isolation
1. Age UK
Age UK is one of the best-known charities for older people, operating at both national and local levels. The charity specialises in providing a range of services to seniors, from friendship to support and advice, and also works to improve the lives of older people in society by advocating for policy changes.
Many services can be accessed in person, with extra help just a phone call away. Age UK’s free advice line offers impartial, specialist advice to address any worries people might have, whether it’s about finances, retirement housing, or accessing care and health services. It also offers several befriending initiatives, including in-person meet-ups, regular phone chats, and a friendly voice for over-55s to speak to at any time through the Silver Line Helpline.
Local Age UK branches are set up to support the needs of older people in their local areas, offering services such as exercise classes, digital skills tutoring, and home support. The charity relies heavily on fundraising and donations, which is why the McCarthy & Stone Foundation was delighted to donate to Age UK Bradford District. Chris Alexander, Deputy Chief Executive of the district, said the donation will help “older people with the support they need, whether it’s financial advice, social activities, or essential care.”
2. Time to Talk Befriending
There are several charities that provide much-needed friendship to older people in specific communities. One of these is Time To Talk Befriending, a Brighton-based charity that connects older people across Brighton and Hove, Worthing, and Adur with volunteers.
Time To Talk Befriending prioritises respect for older people, creating genuine opportunities for joy through seasonal events, one-to-one and group socialising, intergenerational friendships, and much more.
3. Re-engage
Re-engage is a charity specifically designed to reduce loneliness in people over 75. These later years come with extra challenges, as our social connections reduce and people we love pass away. The charity hosts free social events, activity groups, and gentle exercise sessions to give people the chance to socialise and meet kindred spirits, believing that no one is ever too old to make friends. Re-engage also has a befriending phone programme, where older people can connect with a friendly call companion over regular phone calls.
Practical & financial support
4. Independent Age
Lots of people feel shame about struggling financially, and societally, we often avoid talking about the specifics of our money. Independent Age recognises that financial hardship is an unfortunate occurrence for some people in later life. Millions of older people live below the poverty line, with countless more worrying about income, quality of life, and the rising cost of living.
This invaluable charity aims to overcome the stigma of pensioner poverty by providing free, practical support from its team of friendly advisers. It also awards much-needed grants to other organisations that can have a direct positive impact on older people.
5. Turn2us
Turn2us is a national charity that supports anyone facing financial hardship. While its services aren’t exclusively for older people, much of the support provided is relevant for many people in later life.
Along with financial information on topics such as cost of living, bereavement, and pensions and retirement, Turn2us offers quick and easy ways for people to find out what financial support they might be entitled to. The charity offers several useful tools, including a benefits calculator, a PIP application helper, and a grants searcher to help people access the aid and resources they need to improve their situation.
6. The Money Charity
The Money Charity provides services, workshops, and advice nationwide to help people improve their financial security and money management. The charity is all about empowering people of all ages to take control of their finances by understanding their behaviours, attitudes, and habits, and providing essential education and tools. The charity works with other organisations and community groups to deliver financial wellbeing sessions for adults at a local level.
Health & specialist care
7. Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer's Society has been working for over 45 years to provide dementia support and guidance, conduct groundbreaking research, and campaign for policy changes. The expert advice includes a wide range of support for professionals, carers, and people living with dementia. Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be distressing, but Alzheimer's Society aims to help people adjust to their changing reality, maintain independence, and stay active. The charity also provides specialist legal and financial information, including details on lasting power of attorney, paying for care, and lesser-known but still very important laws that affect people with dementia.
As part of Dementia Action Week, McCarthy employees signed up to become part of the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends mission, to help staff understand how dementia might impact people, learn how to be understanding, patient and kind to those with a diagnosis, and to ensure our retirement communities are designed with dementia in mind.
8. Dementia UK
Dementia UK is a remarkable charity that provides critical free support to people living with dementia or caring for others through its specialist dementia nursing team, called Admiral Nurses. Support can be accessed over the phone, through video calls, or in person, where people in need can get help with anything from emotional topics like coping with a recent diagnosis and planning for the future to practical tips for managing symptoms and day-to-day life.
9. Stroke Association
The Stroke Association is a charity dedicated to supporting stroke survivors and their loved ones, guiding them through recovery, into their new reality, and throughout the rest of their lives. While strokes can affect people of all ages, they are most common in older people over 50.
The charity’s tailored stroke support can be accessed through one-to-one support with a specialist coordinator, through the nation’s only stroke helpline, and through handy online resources. It also works hard to fund research into treatment, care, and rehab, and to campaign for improvements in stroke care and prevention.
10. Friends of the Elderly
Friends of the Elderly, or FotE, has been committed to looking after older people through its care homes and day care services for over 100 years. The non-profit offers various types of quality care, including respite, residential, and dementia care – all of which support the mental and physical health of older people and provide much-needed companionship. Its care homes are designed to be comfortable and supportive, often hosting fun events for residents to enjoy. The charity also awards grants to older people on low incomes, giving them the boost they need to live a comfortable, dignified life.
Supporting independence & connection
11. The Cinnamon Trust
The Cinnamon Trust believes that older people shouldn’t have to part with their beloved pets when times get hard. The trust offers day-to-day support, short-term fostering, and lifelong plans for furry companions after their owners pass, providing peace of mind for their caring owners.
McCarthy & Stone homeowner Margaret Kingsley-Smith, who lives in one of our pet-friendly retirement communities, volunteers as a dog walker for The Cinnamon Trust. Margaret spends time walking a guide dog for their blind owner, offering the pup a little break from work.
12. AbilityNet
AbilityNet aims to help seniors and people with disabilities develop critical digital skills and overcome barriers to getting online. As more services move online, AbilityNet’s free technology support and resources empower older people with the knowledge and tools they need to access the digital world. The charity’s friendly tech volunteers provide support with all sorts of tech problems, no matter how big or small they might seem. Volunteers can guide seniors through their tech challenges over the phone or even visit in person to tackle the problem together.
The charity also hosts free training sessions for over 55s in groups of all sizes, covering topics such as getting to grips with smart devices, online banking and health management, and digital safety.
About the McCarthy & Stone Foundation
As part of our mission to enrich the lives of older adults, the McCarthy & Stone Foundation is our non-profit, charitable arm, created to strengthen communities across the UK. Our goal is simple - to build a society where older people are valued, connected, and supported. The Foundation provides grants and partnerships that empower grassroots charities and communities local to our developments to deliver practical help to seniors.
Some of our initiatives throughout the years include a grant to the Shirley Community Centre to enhance social activities for older residents in Shirley, including homeowners at our Wheatley Place development, and a £500 contribution to the Hadleigh Elderly People’s Welfare Committee in Suffolk, helping them continue their valuable trips out for local seniors. Similarly, we made a £500 donation to Friends of Riverside Park in Bitterne Park, Southampton, to help maintain a cherished green space for community enjoyment.
How our homeowners support charities
Many of our homeowners at McCarthy & Stone play active roles in supporting charity work and community volunteering, demonstrating that meaningful contribution starts at home. One senior, Kevin, who lives at Roslin Place in Hook, walked 275 miles with his beloved dog Mac and raised £750 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Likewise, events designed to combat loneliness, such as ‘Friendship Fridays’ held at our Pinnoc Mews development in Exeter and The Boathouse in Southampton, encourage people to come together and enjoy the company of others in a welcoming environment.
By engaging in volunteer and fundraising opportunities, our thoughtful homeowners bring purpose and value to their own lives and to others. Whether it’s running a befriending event, helping host a coffee morning for charity, or spending time teaching children to read, their generous efforts demonstrate how a retirement living community can become a springboard for charitable action.
Discover McCarthy & Stone retirement communities
At McCarthy & Stone, we believe later life should be active, independent, and supported, allowing you to enjoy every moment. Our retirement communities are designed to help you live retirement your way, with the peace of mind that support is always close by if you need it.
Find the perfect place to call home by browsing retirement properties in locations all over the UK, and discover how McCarthy & Stone can help you make the most of every day.
