[Ambulatory medical care of the over-65 patient]

Based upon two investigations involving a sample of the elderly in Basle and Berne and a sample of physicians in private practice throughout the country, a description of the ambulatory health care of the population of Switzerland aged 65 and over is presented. Significant results include the role of the family physician, home visits, the kind of therapy and follow-up as well as the remarkable finding that the utilization of the family physicians' services is influenced by the presence of health insurance coverage. (34% of the people aged 85 and over are without coverage).