As a member state of the United Nations, Slovakia has adopted General Assembly resolution 47/5 of October 16.th, 1992, which proclaimed 1999 the International Year of Older People. The unifying theme of the Year is a «Society for all age groups», with the emphasis on raising tolerance and respect for the life of older people. Increasing life expectancy is one of the great successes of the twentieth century. However, longevity, together with a falling birth-rate, is leading to a substantial ageing of the world's population. Ageing is a lifelong process, and the preparation of the population for the later years should be an essential part of social policy, embracing all aspects of life. In all cultures respect and care for older people is something that reflects the essential interplay between the impulses of self-preservation and the advancement of human society.