A review of the literature on health promotion for the elderly reveals that changes in behavior, recognized as beneficial if made early in life, also increase longevity and quality of life if made in one's later years. National survey data show that although people over 65 years are less likely to have harmful health and nutritional habits than are middle-aged adults, they are also less aware of the effect of behavioral patterns on health. Physician- and patient-provided data indicating that education and screening exams are provided less frequently to the elderly suggest possible age-related deficits in health promotion and preventive care. Expansion of physicians' efforts aimed at health promotion for the elderly could reduce morbidity and improve quality of life for this growing population by delaying the onset of dependency.