The UK non-profit Centre for Ageing Better has launched a much-needed resource for companies, healthcare organizations, and press–a photo library of hundreds of positive, realistic, and diverse images of older people in everyday life. It is free for use for non-commercial and commercial purposes, UK and internationally, with only a few restrictions on use such as crediting and non-alteration, which are clearly outlined in their short guide (downloadable PDF). They also provide information on how to search and guidelines for creating your own images. Link to the Centre’s information page on the photo library.

Categories on ResourceSpace are work, health, housing, communities, digital inclusion, finance, and planning. There are also icons free for use. At present, there are about 300 images which the Centre is adding to.

Sign up also for their newsletter, not only for updates on the library but also information on the Centre’s activities and policy updates.

Editor’s note: As a marketer (marketing director/head of marketing/consultant) in the past 15 years for several health care companies in the older adult market, including a payer, I can testify at length at the scarcity of images of older people in everyday activities including work and play. Searching stock libraries for photos that don’t depict infirmity, a medical setting, aloneness or sadness, or to represent diverse cultures and social groups, is wearying indeed. There aren’t many, which leads to overuse of the few royalty-free/single payment images that meet these needs. Is there lack of demand? (I don’t think so!) Larger organizations can and should set up photo shoots for their needs, but not all organizations or companies have that opportunity nor the resources. See these three images from the library at left/above for a sample (these are lower res suitable for PowerPoint). Easy to download and select. Another plus: there are relatively few that are identifiable as the UK or Europe, so this is a boon for marketers in many countries. 

Hat tip to Emily Wilson, Communications Assistant, at the Centre for Ageing Better.