Data on the socioeconomic status of elderly Hispanic Americans are limited. Issues that address the needs of younger populations have taken priority. This report is an attempt to publicize data on elderly Hispanic people and to recommend changes in the way they are regarded and served. The findings are the following: (1) this population is growing rapidly; (2) elderly Hispanic Americans are concentrated in New York, Florida, Texas, and California; (3) they are likely to live in multigenerational families; (4) they are the least educated elderly subgroup; (5) those who wish to participate in the labor force are more likely to be unemployed than members of other groups; (6) the poverty rate is high, twice as high as for Whites, but not as high as for Blacks, whose rate is three times that of Whites; (7) they are less likely to receive public assistance; (8) they are more likely to suffer from chronic illness or disability; (9) a partnership needs to be forged between family and government to better serve the Hispanic elderly; and (10) policy changes are needed to improve their economic status and that of the extended families who care for them. Twenty-two figures and a 26-item bibliography are included. (VM)