The availability of state funded care and other issues of importance to older people could have a massive impact on the election.

Voters are expected to go to the polls in May of this year and the so-called grey vote could swing key seats for all three main parties.

Research by Mori and Help The Aged has revealed that the grey vote is still up for grabs.

More than one in four people over the age of 65 could change their mind about which party to support before they vote, the poll found.

Firm allegiances appear to be something of the past and older people, like their younger counterparts, are becoming political shoppers.

The bulk of the 9.3 million voters aged 65 or over only support their party fairly strongly (47 per cent) while nearly 20 per cent not very strongly.