UK Data Archive Resources for Studying Older People and Ageing

There is a growing collection of data available on older people and ageing at the UK Data Archive. Collections include “On the Edge of Later Life”, a study that investigated the experiences of people in their 50’s, and “Older Men: Their Social Worlds and Healthy Lifestyles”, a study that investigated masculinity and ageing, with a focus on men living alone. Both qualitative and quantitative data are available. The UKDA wants to make data easily useable for research, teaching and policy purposes. To those ends, it provides access to data, additional resources and user support for those interested in using archived data. This paper describes the kinds of data and related materials that are available on ageing and later life and explains how they can be accessed and used.