Research consistently shows that the elderly are at less risk of criminal victimization than younger age groups but that their fear of crime, to the extent of affecting their quality of life (fearing to participate in activities outside the home), is greater than that of younger age groups. The results of the 1984 BCS concerning victimization vulnerability are somewhat ambiguous. On the one hand, the elderly report more concern about their victimization experiences than do younger victims, despite evidence that the crimes the elderly experience are less serious. When asked about appropriate victim services, the elderly are only slightly more likely to welcome victim services than younger victims and only slightly less receptive to reparation. It is important that policies aimed at lessening the vulnerability of the elderly should not do so at the cost of increased dependency. 3 notes.