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• Age Concern reveals that homes across the UK are in disarray with the majority of Brits having no idea where they keep important documents
• Age Concern launches LifeBook‚ a free booklet that can help people manage their affairs 
• The average person spends almost an hour and a half a month searching for key documents
• Over half (51%) of us have to hunt around for important or misplaced paperwork anywhere between once a week and once a month

Age Concern today reveals our relaxed attitudes to storing and remembering where important documents are kept.  Two thirds of Brits admit to leaving essential documents in unlocked places around the home such as kitchen drawers or in unlocked cupboards.  The research also shows that a massive 97% have to hunt around for misplaced and important certificates including vital papers such as passports (38%)‚ driving licences (18%) and insurance policy details (11%)‚ in fact 42% have no idea where they keep their birth certificates.

In order to help people collate all their information about their life in one place‚ Age Concern Enterprises is launching the Age Concern LifeBook on April 28th 2008.  LifeBook is a practical service which is free of charge to everyone and is designed to allow people to manage their affairs and pull together practical personal and financial information.  LifeBook is available as a booklet or an interactive website.

It is an easy-to-use method of recording the important details of your life and it can also be used as a way of managing different practical affairs.  For example‚ friends’ birthdays or renewal dates on different insurances‚ as well as keeping a record of utility suppliers and store cards - there is even a section to record your final wishes.  The Age Concern LifeBook will also enable loved ones to help look after their affairs should the need arise.

Sharon Dobson from Age Concern says‚ “Our research and years of experience working with older people shows that as we age we appreciate the importance of planning and getting our affairs in order.  That is why LifeBook has been created.  The Age Concern LifeBook provides an easy way to address the difficult task of putting our affairs in order and gives the confidence that the burden of managing our affairs will be made so much easier for our loved ones when it becomes necessary.”

LifeBook is available to everyone regardless of age.  Call 0845 685 1061; log on to www.ageconcern.org.uk/lifebook  or visit your local Age Concern and request a leaflet. 

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For further information and interviews please contact Elly Kestenbaum‚ Imogen Davies or Marina El Sidaoui at Trimedia on 020 7025 7500 or email elly.kestenbaum@trimediauk.com‚ imogen.davies@trimediauk.com or marina.elsidaoui@trimediauk.com

Notes to editors:

1. Security
Whilst developing LifeBook‚ Age Concern tested the product with users and developed the product to specifically exclude the need to note down any information that could compromise one’s confidentiality‚ for example:

• No request for account numbers
•  Messages in LifeBook advising users not to record pin numbers or key security information such as passwords
  Age Concern also advise people to keep their LifeBook in a safe place as you would any other important document 

2. Security online
Age Concern has no access to the users LifeBook information‚ which is stored solely on the web server and is only accessible to the user

• Each user account is protected by a username and password
• Automatic logout if the user is inactive to avoid multiple users on one PC accessing other content

3. LifeBook is split into and covers the following sections: Personal details‚ life contacts‚ financial‚ documents‚ possessions and final wishes

About Age Concern:

Age Concern is the leading charity in the UK concerned with ageing and older people‚ and works to improve the quality of life for all older people. Nationally‚ it is involved in campaigning‚ policy guidance‚ research and information‚ and through its trading arm‚ Age Concern Enterprises (ACEnt)‚ offers a range of products and services specifically designed for older people.

ACEnt incorporates: Age Concern Energy Services‚ Age Concern Insurance Services‚ Age Concern Funeral Plans and Charity Flowers Direct.

Age Concern & why it trades: 

At a local level‚ Age Concern offers a range of services for older people‚ such as day centres‚ luncheon clubs‚ and advice and information services.

At a national level‚ Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developing policy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies‚ financially and professionally.

To fund this work‚ Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and trading activities.

Age Concern’s trading activities enable it to meet the needs of older people‚ through products specifically designed for them; quality products at fair prices such as General Insurance.

ACEnt Media Team