The subject of the article is the peculiarities of the execution of imprisonment in relation to the elderly (over 50 years old) as an independent legal institution of penitentiary law in Russia and abroad.The purpose of the article is to identify the patterns and problems of the execution of punishment in the form of imprisonment in relation to elderly people (over 50 years old) in Russia and abroad, taking into account the growth trend of this category of prisoners and propose a legal solution to the problem.Main tasks: (1) to determine using statistical indicators the change in the number of elderly prisoners and identify the main trend in quantitative indicators; (2) identify problems that arise in elderly prisoners due to the lack of legislative regulation of the organization of an accessible environment in correctional institutions; (3) conduct a comparative analysis of the organization of medical care in relation to the elderly when serving a sentence of imprisonment in Russia and abroad; (4) determine ways to improve Russian legislation in the field of punishment in the form of imprisonment in relation to elderly prisoners.Research methodology. When studying the tendency of aging convicts to imprisonment in Russia and abroad, an analysis of statistical data was used. The work is a comparative legal study as a result of the study of domestic and foreign experience in the execution of sentences in the form of imprisonment, as well as the penal policy of Russia and foreign countries in relation to elderly prisoners; specific sociological technique was used when conducting a survey of persons over 55 years old serving a sentence of imprisonment in Russia; the formal-legal method made it possible to formulate a number of proposals on the need to reform penitentiary institutions, taking into account the age characteristics of this category of convicts.Main results and scope of their application. Firstly, the possibility of allocating a separate chapter to the PEC of the Russian Federation on the peculiarities of the execution of punishment in the form of imprisonment of elderly convicts is justified. Secondly, the definition of the concept of "accessible environment", as well as the peculiarities of medical care for elderly convicts, taking into account the relevant experience of foreign countries. Thirdly, there is a need to form legal institutions for the socialization and resocialization of elderly people (over 55 years old) during the period of serving criminal sentences in the form of imprisonment, taking into account age characteristics and foreign experience.Conclusion. Age characteristics and health conditions have a direct impact on the correctional impact of those sentenced to imprisonment. Russian and foreign experience clearly show that at present there is no unified political and legal approach in relation to elderly prisoners, despite the general growth trend of this category of persons. In Russia and abroad, there is a need to build correctional institutions of a new type, which will take into account, among other things, the age characteristics of the convicts. In this case, it is necessary to start with the development of individual legal institutions.