SPECIFYING THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

The article examines the problems of the elderly; it is proven that the system of social services in Ukraine is constantly in the process of updating and modernizing in accordance with the new needs of citizens and modern global approaches to the provision of social services; certain norms and principles are defined that contribute to ensuring decent living conditions for older people (ensuring safe and fair access, sustainability, social protection); problems that occur in the functioning of the system of quality social services are presented (non-compliance of social services with international standards, insufficient level of qualification of social service workers; low level of social expenditures compared to EU countries, etc.); it has been proven that one of the main strategic directions of reforming the social services system is the development and implementation in practice of methodologies and methods for assessing the individual needs of social service users; аn example of the work of the University of the Third Age in the Territorial Center of the Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv is given; it is determined that a state-guaranteed package of social services for the least protected segments of the population will strengthen citizens' trust in the state, ensure the strengthening of stability and security of society.