Counseling and social activities, for instance, are more important than nursing care for younger seniors, whereas nursing and medical care are obviously most important for the oldest of the old. Out of necessity social service organizations are taking over the functions of the family in providing care for the elderly.
比如說，對初老期的老人而言，心理調適、社會活動大致而言要較醫療照護重要；老老期人口最需要的顯然便以醫療和護理為主，社會機構往往必須取代家庭在這方面的功能。