Introduction: This graduate thesis was created within the scientific institutional project of the University Department of Health Studies in Split entitled "Self-assessed need of elderly people for services of gerontological centers (non-institutional care) in Split" and constitutes the 2nd part of the mentioned project (SOZS-IP-2020-5). The aim of this paper is to investigate what are the main reasons that people over the age of 65 decide to apply for a long-term institutional care at a nursing home. Methods and subjects: Methods and subjects: The research was conducted by phone survey with the anonymity of the persons ensured. The source of contact was official waiting list for accommodation in the Nursing home in Split, location Vukovarska, dating October 2021. Every other person aged 65 and over from the subject list who was offered participation in the research was included. For the purposes of the research, we used the Barthel scale index modified according to Shah S., Vanclay F. and Cooper B. as well as questionnaires on the socio-demographic characteristics and the reasons for applying for a long-term institutional care at a nursing home. Results and discussion: The results of the research showed that the main reason for applying for long-term institutional care at a home for the elderly is "illness" (N=182) with an average number of points of 1.63 (SD 1.07), while the second reason ranked in importance is "need for health care" with an average umber of points 1.18, (SD 1.03). The third reason is "family" that cannot provide adequate and necessary care with an average number of points 1.17 (SD 1.28). According to the research, the largest number of respondents are being helped by family members (n=122; 67.03%), where family members become their informal caregivers. The analysis established an association between the level of reason for applying to a nursing home and the reason for applying (χ2=26.26; P<0.001) with the most common reason being the illness. Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, we can confirm the importance of providing health services in homes for the elderly, because according to the self-assessment of the elderly, the highest ranked reasons for applying for long-term institutional care are precisely "illness" and "need for health care". Such research results imply the necessary changes in personnel norms and standards in nursing homes, the necessity of effective connection of institutional and non-institutional care for the elderly, and coordination within the necessary multidisciplinary gerontological team.