English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
ELSA 50+ Health and Life
By 2021 around half the population of England will be over 50. We're carrying out this research to find out more about the lives of people in this influential age group.
Essential information
ELSA is unique. We are the only major study in England talking to people from 50,
right up to 100 years old and beyond, at the same time. That’s why we’re coming back
to the same people every few years, to help us understand in detail how things are changing for people in this age group.
It is funded by a number of Government departments including the Department of Health, Department for Transport, the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Institute on Aging in the United States.
Reports analysing each new wave of data are published on the ELSA project website. The data is also used by other researchers and acadmics to write journal articles, which you can also find on the ELSA project website.
Make your voice heard
People aged 50 and over account for half of the nation's spending and three quarters of the nation's wealth, so it’s important the Government listen to your opinions and experiences.
Change over time
We’d like to visit you to find out how your life is changing. This allows us to collect really useful information about changes in your health, social life, finances and relationships.
Be part of a bigger picture
ELSA isn’t the only study of people aged 50 and over, there are others in America, Europe, India and China. We hope you take part in ELSA; if you do, you’ll be contributing to an international effort to understand later life and what it means for people.
Meet the ELSA team
A number of organisations work together to run ELSA and analyse the information you give us. As well as NatCen, they are:
Who pays for ELSA?
ELSA is funded by a number of government departments, the ESRC and the National Institute on Aging in the United States.