The methodological recommendations address the psychological characteristics of old age and the characteristics of the process of adaptation of an elderly person to a new place of residence of a specialized center. The article describes the psychological characteristics of an elderly person during the adaptation period, identifies factors that contribute to and prevent successful adaptation. Special attention is paid to methods of psychological support of elderly people during the adaptation period. The program was developed by teachers of the Department of Counseling Psychology and employees of the Center for Corporate Training and Counseling of YarSU . P. G. Demidova, implemented in the practice of the Yaroslavl regional gerontological center .