Ageing is an irreversible process that has always aroused the interest of scientists. Given demographic trends related to the ageing population, care for the elderly becomes a topic that we increasingly encounter in the field of social work and everyday life. In Croatia we observe certain demographic changes such as: reduced fertility, negative natural growth, decrease in population, etc. Due to these trends, the overall welfare system, and in particular existing programes and services for the elderly, should be adapted. The area of care for the elderly and the infirm in Croatia is regulated by European and national legal regulations. The legal regulations guarantee certain fees, which are generally modest, while in the field of services we find inequalities and lack of accommodation capacities. The family, as a basic institution of society, has recently lost its role in caring for the elderly. Future development of services for the elderly should go towards ensuring institutional accommodation for a smaller number of the elderly who need it, while emphasis should be placed on the development of non-institutional services, in which the family and local communities play an important role. The increase in the number of the elderly means higher costs of social welfare and social security system, but older people should not be seen as a burden but rather as wealth, a resource, contribution to society and a source of knowledge and experience.