This exploratory study assesses the sources from which elderly blacks draw support for needed services. A total of 208 elderly blacks were questioned concerning whom they would turn to for companionship, when feeling depressed, when in need of necessities like food or medicine, and in emergency situations. For each area, respondents indicated whether they called on children, spouse, sister, brother, friend, neighbor, or others (such as agencies, institutions, clergymen or social workers). It was found that, like most other Americans, aged blacks depend greatly on their families, especially their children. Community resources are often underutilized, even in cases where they are needed to ease the strain on the family of caring for the aged person. It is not clear whether society is failing to provide needed support, or whether aged blacks voluntarily refrain from taking advantage of it. (Author/BP)