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The purpose of this paper is to start a debate about older people who are in groups that are not readily visible to policy makers and practitioners.

The paper is based on information obtained from academic literature, government statistics and other publications from relevant organisations. The authors investigated one “invisible” group each and comparisons and conclusions were then made collaboratively.

Many groups of older people seem to be absent from statistics and from policy making. The paper suggests that there needs to be more research to identify the scale of any problems and how they may be solved.

This is not a systematic review but a preliminary account of the problem.

There are practical implications for health and social care professionals if they do not recognise that there are groups in society about whom little is known. Lack of knowledge and empathy may affect their approach to these groups.

There are implications for society if these groups are not taken into account in decision making and especially over the allocation of resources.

There is little written which brings together the lack of attention paid to these groups as a whole.