Managements of homes for the elderly and aged have been interviewed on the size and general organisation of their institutions, the amount of new admissions, and type and frequency of dental care for their residents. The home management was also asked to evaluate the dental care. Many managements show no understanding for problems in this respect. Regular dental control and assistance with oral hygiene, as well as regular training of the staff, are often thought to be unnecessary. This estimation of the actual state of dental care in such institutions indicates that information and motivation of management and nursing staff is the first step to improve the dental care of the home-residents.