The responses of health care and social services to an increasingly aging population emerge as a social imperative in a scenario of demographic transition. the geriatric assessment includes the physical, mental, cognitive, emotional and social functions, allowing for, a concrete understanding of the realities and a better health planning.

To assess:

• A) The use and need for health services and social support by the elderly, related with their functional status in five areas (social resources, economic resources, mental health, physical health and activities of daily living);

• B) assessment of the use of and need for the services.

A) to provide information on the functional status and the use/need for services;

B) improve the quality of care, adapting the training of nurses to this new social and health reality.

Cross-sectional study. Randomly sample composed of individuals aged ≥75 (N ≈ 11279; n ≈ 1128) representative according to age and gender. Data collection using the QAFMI/OARS.

Innovative results should emerge in two areas: among the technicians and health policy makers. This study may represent, at a central level, a basis for the improvement of the planning of health and social policies; and, at a local level, a more inclusive planning by the health and social support entities.

Interventions at two levels will emerge from the work suggesting:

• A) health care data provision;

• B) resources allocation definition.

This allows for the social and health intervention policies, providing data which enables the coordination of the services aimed.