To determine differences in perception of benefit from a patient's admission to a geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit, we asked both medical and nursing staff (health team) and the patient and carer (clients) for their evaluation after discharge. The areas studied were functional ability, relief of the principal symptom, education about the principal problem, and development of coping skills. Of 94 patients studied, 58 patients were discharged to the community (52 to carers, 6 to live alone) and 36 to institutions. In the former group, the health team had a consistently higher perception of benefit than the clients (P less than .001). Factors positively predicting health team perception of benefit were a higher carer happiness, improvement in patient independence, and internalization of the patient's locus of control. A negative predictor was an increase in patients' responsibilities. Client perception of benefit was positively predicted by fewer problems with companionship and communication with others. The health team's perception rated the adequacy of patient education and development of coping skills more highly than did the clients. In the patients discharged to the community, their perception of benefit at 1 week was a good predictor of survival in the community to 6 weeks. The possible reasons for these differences in perception of benefit and their implications are discussed.