We examined the reasons for admission into a home for the elderly in the years 1989 and 2000. Both groups of residents were assessed with our own standardised questionnaire. The average number of reasons per one resident was 1.3 in both years. Sociál reasons were more frequent, they form about two thirds of all reasons, and in the course of eleven years this ratio did not change significantly. A significantly higher oceurrence of health reasons were recorded in the old age group (75 years and older) compared to younger seniors (74 years and younger). Men were admitted into the institution at a younger age, women mostly in the 75-79 age category. The mean age on admission was 67.2 years for women and 64 for men. Over the course of eleven years the structure of sociál reasons for admission has changed.

        Key words: people's home, institutional care, health and sociál reasons for admission, seniors