Biography

Helen Bowers
Director, The Older People's Programme

Helen is the Director of The Older People's Programme (OPP), an independent research, evaluation and development body that works across the UK to improve services for older people; influence policy and practice; share learning and information about good practice; and support the continuous development of public services.  She is also currently working with the Office for Disability Issues as part of their Independent Living Review, which will deliver a 5 year strategy for improving the life chances of disabled people of all ages later this year.

Before establishing OPP, Helen was Service Development Adviser (Older People's Services) at the Health Advisory Service where she led a programme of service evaluation and development for older people receiving health and social care services. This included the national enquiry into the quality of care for older people in hospital Not Because They Are Old, and the development of the HAS standards Health and Social Care Services for Older People.  She has written extensively on topical issues and policy initiatives.

Helen originally trained as a health services manager, working as a senior manager in the NHS before focusing on whole systems development and service evaluation. Her first degree was in Psychology from Leicester University, followed by an MBA from Portsmouth University in 1996.

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