Abstract
<jats:p>Croatia ranks among the EU member states with the oldest populations, and ongoing demographic ageing is leading to a growing number of people who require care in later life. However, institutional and community based care services for older adults in Croatia, including residential care facilities, have been insufficient for decades. Similarly to other European countries, older adults in Croatia typically live in their own homes (ageing in place) for as long as possible. When they begin to require assistance, they most often rely on support from their spouses and children. This study, using the City of Zagreb as a case, examines the attitudes of older adults living in their own homes towards residential care, along with their willingness, motivations, and perceived barriers to moving to a nursing home. It presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted in the City of Zagreb between December 2022 and January 2023, based on face to face semi structured biographical interviews. The sample consisted of twenty respondents aged 65 and over who live independently in their own home. This study showed that most older adults, regardless of age, education, living arrangement, or health status wish to continue living in their own home for as long as possible. Participants generally view relocation to a nursing home as a strategy for very old age or when they can no longer remain fully independent.</jats:p>