International Scientific Conference GEOBALCANICA 2022 171 STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS ON OLDER PEOPLE – THE CASE OF CROATIA DOI: https://doi.org/10.18509/GBP22171k UDC: 314.117-053.9]:364(497.5) 364-053.9(497.5) Sanja Klempić Bogadi Sonja Podgorelec Department for Migration and Demographic Research, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Croatia ABSTRACT With 21.4% of its population aged 65 and over and a median age of 44.4 years, Croatia is among the oldest European and world countries. Population ageing and changes in economic, political, and social life (particularly changes in the family, but also in the attitude of the individual and society towards ageing) require new approaches in planning to meet the needs of older people and organising comprehensive formal, institutional and non-institutional forms of care for those in need. This paper aims to analyse the main strategic documents dealing with older people and their most common problems and offering solutions, mainly to meet their primary needs. The following documents have been analysed: the Social Welfare Strategy for Older People in the Republic of Croatia for the period 2017–2020, the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Croatia 2014–2020, and the National Plan to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion in Croatia for the period from 2021 to 2027. The analysis will seek to assess the extent to which the specific objectives of the operational plans are in line with the planned integrated approach to social services, with the basic criterion being the quality of services and individual needs. Any analysis of the challenges relating to population ageing and the ways to solve them, as well as the quality of life of older people, should be focused on the concept of active and healthy ageing, i.e. the potential of older people to contribute to their own well-being, family and community well-being. Keywords: older people, strategic documents, Croatia, active and healthy ageing INTRODUCTION The United Nations has proclaimed the decade we live in (2021–2030) the Decade of Healthy Ageing, aiming to improve the lives of older people, their families, and communities. The focus is on four strongly interconnected action areas: combating ageism, age-friendly environments, integrated care, and access to long-term care [1]. Changes in the population age structure, including an increase in the number of older people and a decrease in the number of young people, are present in a growing number of countries. Population ageing is a process that has started several decades ago due to the decline in fertility and the increase in life expectancy in Europe and is one of the greatest challenges for European modern societies. According to Eurostat estimates, the number of older people in the EU-27 will increase from 90.5 million to 130.2 million between 2019 and 2100, while the median age will increase from 43.7 to 48.8 [2]. With 21.4% of its population aged 65 and over and a median age of 44.4 years, Croatia is among the oldest European and world countries [3]. Decades of continuous emigration