A national charity has told how c-stores can play a vital role in shaping supportive communities for elderly people and at the same time give themselves a point of difference.

Speaking at the ACS Community Action Forum, Amy Swan from Help the Aged said there were many things that retailers could do to make stores more accessible to older people.

"Simple things such as making items easier to reach, wider aisles and brighter lighting can make a difference," she said.

Other tips included clearer signage, non-slip flooring, easy-grip baskets and larger labels. "One retailer leaves magnifying glasses on shelves to help elderly people," she added.

Almost 50% of elderly people felt their needs were not taken into consideration when planning local services, a recent study by Help the Aged found.