The thesis deals with subjective perception of needs of clients in residential institutions in Austria. The overview part describes important concepts of old age and the issues and the process of aging, further it describes ways of adaptation to old age, forms of activisation of seniors and the topic of human needs of elderly people. Theoretical basis of the work is typology of needs by A. Maslow and M. Max-Neef. The overview part is followed by qualitative research that is looking to find an aswer to the research question: What is the subjective perception of needs by elderly people living in residential care.