Analysis of 1980 census data reveals that elderly people (age 65 and over) living in Central and Southern Appalachia suffer more inferior life circumstances than the elderly population in the nation as a whole, falling well below national averages in terms of income, access to transportation, availability of telephones, and presence of resources such as long-term care facilities. While the proportion of elderly population is lower than the national average, well over 25% of the elderly in these subregions live below the national poverty level. This compares with 15% nationwide. Poverty and isolation are exacerbated by problems with transportation and communication, with over 13% of the elderly households in Central Appalachia lacking a telephone. Provision of appropriate supportive intervention is difficult as population thresholds are frequently too low to economically justify providing services and the remote locations of those in need make access extremely costly. There may be features of Appalachian family organization, culture, and lifestyle that compensate for "objective" disadvantages. When planning programs to deal with Appalachia's elderly, care should be taken not to jeopardize these strengths. (Author/NEC)