This publication consists of the collated information of a survey undertaken in the autumn of 1985 by the Long Term and Community Care Team at the King's Fund Centre. All NHS district general managers in the UK were contacted, to find out about innovations in services for the elderly during 1982-85, and to identify centres of excellence and good practices. This publication will be used by the King's Fund Centre as a basis for discussion and planning of future Centre activities relating to elderly people and to their care. It is hoped that it will also prove a useful source of information to NHS planners and practitioners, and policy makers.