A basic tenet of this paper is that the concept of crisis and crisis management has developed as a central issue within the fields of community psychiatry, psychology, and mental health, but that little systematic attention has been devoted to a particular subgroup at risk, i.e., older persons. Both theoretical background and clinical implications for crisis management, especially in long-term care settings, are discussed. Important differences for the elderly that warrant attention are examined, including the type, perception of, and number of stressful events which can precipitate crises, e.g., nursing home residents who are exposed to an alarming number of these events as a direct result of entry into the nursing home. Three levels and types of crisis intervention are proposed to help older persons in crisis situations, including preventive, clinical, and problem-solving approaches. (Author/JAC)