ABSTRACT
The Department of Family Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico Medicine School performed a census of the inhabitants 60 years and older in the community of Gurabo. A total of 1,890 elderly were interviewed 51% were female and 49% male. Sixty percent were married and twenty-five percent were widowed. Eighty two percent still lived within a family setting and only seventeen percent lived alone 86% owned their own home despite ninety percent reporting incomes below $400.00 per month. Ninety five percent have access to medical services but 63% receive services in multiples sites. Eighteen percent were functionally impaired, fourteen percent intelectually impaired and five percent had impairment in both areas. Preliminary data show that the latter group had an annual mortality rate of 15% compared to only 3.6% and 1.3% respectively in the other two group. We concluded that: 1) functional and mental impairment are indicators of increased mortality. 2) although access to health care is not a problem this health care is episodic and interrupted being provided in multiple different sites