Older people do often feel left out, particularly when it comes to technology

Age Concern spokeswoman

The site will help people to plan ahead to ensure they are able to provide for themselves later in life.

It will offer advice on mobility, independence and health and will provide information on long term care.

Old people will also be able to seek help in arranging a funeral and managing a dead person's estate and can access emotional support to cope with bereavement.

The service was launched by Baroness Cumberlege, vice-president of the Royal College of Nursing and a director of guideforlife.com.

She said the service would help to tackle the last taboos in society.

"The issues, both practical and emotional, relating to chronic illness, disability, ageing and particularly bereavement are the last taboos in our society.

"Guideforlife gives access at any time of the night or day to authoritative information and services and allows people to share experiences and plan for the future," she said.

Keen

The service was welcomed by the charity Age Concern. A spokeswoman said old people were keen to use the internet.

A recent survey by Age Concern found people over the age of 50 spent an average of nine hours every week surfing the net.

"It certainly goes against the stereotype of them being technophobes and older people do often feel left out, particularly when it comes to technology," she said.

But the spokeswoman welcomed the launch of the website. "This is another step in helping older people get online."