The work is devoted to the problems encountered by the elderly, and those are social isolation and poverty. The introductory part defines the concepts of social exclusion and poverty. The next part is about social isolation in old age with the presentation of researches that speak about the effects that social and emotional isolation leave on physical and mental health and the welfare of the elderly and there are also mentioned the factors of coping with loneliness. Below is a section on poverty, where are mentioned various measures, and most important in the Republic of Croatia is the opening of the so-called social shops. Following are the main guidelines of the care policy for the elderly in the form of various documents, such as the European Anti Poverty Network, European Older People's Platform, Europe 2020, the Family Act, the Social Welfare Act and the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion of the Republic of Croatia. In conclusion, it indicates that there are expected an increasing number of elderly people and a drop in birth rates, leading to numerous problems, and the key problems are poverty and social exclusion of the elderly, particularly in the dimension of social relations (ie social isolation). Professional role of social work is of great importance for this area, particularly in the inclusion of older people in active participation in making and implementation of decisions relevant to their lives.