INTRODUCTION: The peculiarities of life on the island, the age and gender structure of the population, and the reliance on their own opportunities for a small number of residents, forced the inhabitants to active life until the deep age.There was a disruption of the balance between the number of young people and persons aged 65 and over. METHODS: This retrospective research analyses the following institutions: General Medical Practices in Preko and Ugljan over the period 2013 to 2017; General Medical Practice in Kali over the period 2013 to 2015; the Elderly Nursing Home Zadar, branch Preko, over the period 2013 to 2017, the Elderly Nursing Home of the Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan over the period 2013 to 2018, Emergency Medical Aid in Kali over the period 2013 to 2017, and Health Visiting Service in 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: According to the data provided by the retrospective research it is visible that more than 50% of general medical practice visits were made by people older than 65. The data from the Elderly Nursing Home Preko show that over the period 2013 to 2017 27 people were admitted, and the same number of people died. Over the period 2012 to 2018, 22 people older than 65 were admitted to the Elderly Nursing Home of the Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan. During 2016, 105 patients had Health Visiting Service, and during 2017, 103 patients older than 65 had Health Visiting Service. 5 401 people sought emergency help in the Emergency Medical Aid in Kali in the period from April 1st 2013 to December 31st 2017, from which 3 233 people older than 65. CONCLUSION: According to the number of inhabitants on the Zadar islands, it is evident that the elderly predominate, especially on the smaller and distant islands. The results obtained by retrospective research have shown that on the island of Ugljan, health services require elderly people. Changing lifestyles and reducing family has led to the need for institutional forms of care.