English Longitudinal Study of Ageing wave 4
About this study
The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing is the only study in
the UK to follow the lives of people aged 50 and over as they get
older.
Wave 4 interviews started in 2008 and end in 2009. The sample for
Wave 4 is drawn from the households that gave productive interviews
during Wave 1 and the Wave 3 refresher sample of 50 to 53 year olds
and their partners. Another cohort has been added in Wave 4 to
refresh participants aged between 50 and 74. This cohort is drawn
from 2006's Health Survey for England and includes cohabiting
younger or older partners.
Potential policy impact
One in three people in Britain today is aged 50 and over. Our
study helps the government plan health care services and pension
systems to meet the needs of this ageing population.
By comparing this study with equivalents in the US and Europe we
gain greater understanding of just how much impact national
policies and contexts have on people's lives.
Methods
We have selected people aged 50 and over who previously took
part in the Health Survey for England to take part in the English
Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We interview these people every two
years.
The advantage of interviewing the same people who took part in
Health Survey for England is that we can combine existing data with
new data to learn much more about people's health, economic
position and quality of life over time.
Read more about the methodology for wave 4
here.
More from this series
The English Longitudinal study of ageing is
an ongoing series.
This page is about wave 4.
You can also read the results and findings from other waves:
You can:
Of interest:
- NatCen
- 35 Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0AX
- Tel 020 7250 1866
- info@natcen.ac.uk
