The continually growing numbers of elderly persons in our society and the corresponding increase in health care needs for those over age 65 are providing significant challenges to the health care delivery system. Diminishing health care resources and a desire to avoid institutionalization of the elderly client are creating nursing roles for helping the elderly maintain healthful living within the community. Accurate assessment provides the nurse with access to client perceptions of health status as well as a picture of the health management practices of the older adult. A nursing diagnosis of health maintenance alteration is the basis for an individualized plan of care of nursing intervention which is directed toward reducing risk factors and assisting the elderly client to achieve optimum levels of function and independence within the limits of defined health maintenance alterations.