The characteristics and care requirements of 130 clients admitted to a community options project were compared with those of a cohort of 301 nursing home applicants who lived in the same region. The community care clients were all assessed as having care needs which would render them eligible for nursing home care. The community options clients were younger and more likely to be married than the nursing home applicants. Their care needs were significantly less as indicated by a wide range of indicators including the Barthel score, Resident Classification Instrument, and frequency of dementia, disturbed behaviour and incontinence.