High Hospitals were established in three disbanded monasteries and one vicarage between 1533 and 1542, by Landgrave Philipp the Magnanimous of Hesse. His intention was to provide care to infirm and destitute inhabitants of his territory. Already during the 16th century older people were expressly defined as a target group, and numerous supplications dating back to the early modern era have survived, documenting requests by elderly men and women for placement and care in the Landgrave’s hospitals. The biographies included in these supplications provide insights into the difficulties these old people were faced with. In general, applicants had formerly been wage labourers, and no longer had families able to care for them after the onset of physical weakness or mental confusion. Not unlike today’s retirement age, ‘high age’ was defined as ‘above sixty’, even if at that time this was not seen as the termination of work, as these old citizens were still expected to earn their living. If for any physical or mental reason this was impossible, old people were forced to rely on charity. Admittance to a High Hospital was seen as a last resort, as it also meant loss of autonomy. This was, however, often outweighed by relatively good medical and pastoral care, food, and accommodation.