The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is a unique and rich resource of information on the dynamics of health, social, wellbeing and economic circumstances in the English population aged 50 and older.

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Established in 2002, the original sample was drawn from households that had previously responded to the Health Survey for England (HSE) between 1998 and 2001. The same group of respondents have been interviewed at two-yearly interviews, known as ‘waves’, to measure changes in their health, economic and social circumstances. Younger age groups are replaced or refreshed to retain the panel. The sample has been refreshed using HSE participants in waves 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9.

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Although new topics can be introduced at different waves, every module has been reviewed to ensure that it will provide data that can measure change over time. This is achieved by repeating some measures exactly, by asking directly about change, and by adopting questions to allow people to update or amend past responses.