This paper develops the premise that there is today a new "child" in our culture developed in response to expectations of daily functioning, family relationships, societal status, economic level, medical illness, emotional needs, and financial management. This new "child" is a person who has usually passed the age of 65, and has found that the world no longer relates to him on an adult level. The purpose of the paper is to document the above premise and to suggest an alternative approach. In order to adequately do so, cases referred to the Social Services Department of the New England Memorial Hospital, Stoneham, Massachusetts, have been categorized on a random basis during the past year. The categorization has followed the areas detailed above. Of these an example has been chosen to illustrate the points made. Case studies, well disguised, are presented as an illustration of the topic area. Inherent in each of these case presentations is a clear indication of the methodical, often unconscious, way that the health and mental health professional and paraprofessional contribute to the process of turning a self-managing senior adult into a dependent and, often, neurotic "child." (Author)