About us

46% of people aged between 50 – 69 have thought about leaving the UK and enjoying their retirement abroad and recent figures suggest that growing numbers are realising their ambitions with at least 1 million pensioners currently living abroad.

For many of these people the dream comes true and retirement abroad is everything they had ever hoped but as the numbers of people abroad increase so too do the numbers of people encountering problems.

Over the years Age Concern England has seen a rise in enquiries from vulnerable and frail UK nationals abroad and their families and friends. Other agencies are also increasingly expressing their concern about this group of older people. Many of these people will have experienced a change in circumstance such as illness or disability and discover that a lack of support, differences in health and social care provision and lack of entitlement in either the UK or their country of residence leaves them extremely vulnerable and with few avenues for assistance.

The Older People Residing Abroad (OPRA) programme aims to examine in-depth the experiences of older people who have retired abroad to raise awareness of their needs and improve the support and services available. The programme will be aimed at those who have moved permanently abroad, those who are sharing their time between the UK and another country and those who have spent the majority of their lives in the UK but are returning to their country of birth.

The project will work with key organisations with an interest in this area and an advisory group has been formed to direct our work. The OPRA advisory group is comprised of the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, Diocese in Europe, Elizabeth Finn Care, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Royal British Legion, The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – Forces Help (SSAFA) and the West Indian Standing Conference.

Online questionnaire

If you are planning to live abroad or have already made the move, you can help us by completing our online Questionnaire - Moving or Living abroad.

 

Information on planning to live abroad

Information on moving back to the United Kingdom