In response to a request from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Council on Aging, structured interviews were conducted with a random sample of 388 older persons in Charlotte, North Carolina, to assess their needs in the areas of health, transportation, housing, nutrition, information referral, and social participation. A substantial proportion of those sampled expressed at least some degree of need in each of these areas, with needs for better transportation, better information referral, and freedom from fear of crime predominating. Four factors were especially predictive of high life satisfaction: (1) self-perceived good health; (2) self-perceived financial adequacy; (3) feelings of safety in one's neighborhood; and (4) seeing or talking to people as often as desired. The findings appear to be consistent with those of other similar needs assessments. (Author/JAC)