Рассматривается социальная активность пожилых, исследуется влияние городской среды на жизнь людей в возрасте от шестидесяти лет и старше. Используются ре-зультаты социологического исследования активности и самочувствия пожилых лю-дей, проживающих в г. Новосибирске (формализованное структурированное интер-вью, n = 670). Рассматриваются разные аспекты социальной активности, включение пожилых в новые социальные практики. The problem of elderly people’s activity is actualized by changes in the age structure of the population and the changed way of life determined by the capabilities of modern society. These trends lead to the question of new social policy strategies. The issue of the activity of the elderly living in a large city requires a separate consideration. The elderly do not fully use the opportunities of the city, and their activity is rather suppressed by an aggressive environment. This hypothesis is confirmed by a study conducted in 2019 in Novosibirsk (n = 670). The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of the three groups of elderly people: 1) the elderly who are on home-based care; 2) the elderly who are not on home-based care, but receive social services more or less regularly in social institutions; 3) the elderly who do not apply or rarely apply to social institutions. The assumption that each of the selected groups has a common level of activity associated with state of health (well-being) – low, medium and high – was confirmed. The third group tries not to fall out of modern culture, recognizes new social practices and has a wide range of needs. The activity of the other two groups is significantly limited; moreover, the group of those who periodically apply to social institutions raises concerns due to the rapid loss of social ties and exclusion from new social practices. Retirement is an objective factor in reducing activity. While 65% are calm about the new status or perceive it as inevitable, the activity of 16% may change as a result of the frustration experienced. Despite the positive reaction, the feeling of cheerfulness is more or less often experienced by only 7% of the elderly living in the city, while a quarter of the elderly experience problems with well-being (health), and 19% feel bad. The study showed that, most likely, only 35% of the elderly can be considered active, having the strength “for doing something”, while the elderly’s assessment of well-being (state of health) was more positive than the self-assessment of the potential for activity. Elderly people in the city often find themselves alone; their knowledge of information technology is unsatisfactory and does not allow restoring communications. The territory (microdistrict, yard) is not adapted to support the activity of the elderly, and social activity practices are more desirable than real. At the same time, there is a need to expand the space for the manifestation of activity.