THE PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH IS OF USE IN DETERMINING THE SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS, IN ASSESSING EXISTING SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN COMMUNITIES, IN ASSESSING PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS, AND IN GENERATING AND CLASSIFYING PROGRAM OPTIONS. THE BASIC FEATURE OF THE PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH IS THAT IT FOCUSES ON THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS DAY-TO-DAY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS CONTEXT IS REFERRED TO AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHICH COMPRISES THREE ELEMENTS: THE ELDERLY CLIENT, INCLUDING HIS OR HER SKILLS, VALUES, ATTRIBUTES, AND POSSESSIONS; THE LIFE SPACE, INCLUDING HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD; AND THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OTHERS. THE FORMAL SERVICE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (HOSPITALS, CLINICS, COUNSELING AGENCIES, SENIOR CENTERS, HOME HELP PROGRAMS, VICTIMIZATION PROGRAMS) IN THE COMMUNITY'S SERVICE SECTOR. THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FORMAL SUPPORT SYSTEM IS TO STRENGTHEN THE PERSONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM. THIS ORIENTATION CALLS FOR SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS IN TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. THE SERVICE PROVIDER, RATHER THAN THE SERVICE RECIPIENT, MUST BE ADAPTABLE AND FLEXIBLE. FORMAL SERVICES MUST SUPPLEMENT RATHER THAN REPLACE PERSONAL SUPPORTS. THE FORMAL SYSTEM SHOULD ACTIVELY INVOLVE AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL ASPECTS OF THE PERSONAL SYSTEM. EXISTING COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE ORGANIZED AROUND PROBLEM CATEGORIES OR PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTIES, ARE FACILITY-CENTERED, AND ARE LACKING IN VARIETY. NEW SUPPORT OPTIONS REFLECTING THE CLIENT-ORIENTED APPROACH ARE NEEDED.