The ageing of the Polish population poses challenges to the population in terms of the need to safeguard the diverse needs of a growing group of older people. Despite advances in civilisation (including in health technology), not every elderly person will enjoy good health and remain capable of self-care until the last days of life. Some older people will be able to rely on family support if there are different types of risks, including social or health risks. On the other hand, according to demographic and economic forecasts, the number of older people whose needs will be safeguarded will depend on the support of the social assistance sector. The aim of the article is to present the challenges faced by the social assistance sector in the context of the ageing of the population. In particular, what are the scope, forms and types of social assistance benefits for older people and what are the main constraints and barriers to their delivery. The data presented show that it will be difficult for the Polish government to meet the demand for care services in the near future, particularly in the long term, due to a shortage of resources, including human, financial, etc. In addition, the political agenda does not highlight this area of public policy.