This document, one in a series developed to provide technical assistance to 22 Long-Term Care Gerontology Centers, describes the current administrative and structural phenomenon of these centers. Precedents useful in assessing both the current climate and actual prospects for development of long term care centers are cited. The first section describes the centers concept which includes three interrelated theories: matrix theory, the theory of innovation, and the theory of team development. The structure and governance of a center are also addressed. (RC)