Long-term institutional care of dependent subjects is an integral part of chronic health and social care. Its importance will increase as a result of the increasing numbers of chronic patients and subjects depending on the care of others. The author reviews some serious problems associated with care provided in institutes of social care, pensioners' homes and long term care departments in our country and abroad. She discusses the cultural and historical aspect of care, the contemporary state and quality of care and investigates the causes of negative attitudes to these institutions and possibilities how to improve care and the quality of life of their inmates.