Previous surveys of elderly patients in different continuing care settings suggest considerable overlap between settings. However, re-analysis of this data in terms of patients' profiles of dependency reveals a somewhat different picture, suggesting that overlap is not such a general phenomenon. Further data from new surveys in Fife confirm this view. The findings of these studies raise questions about some of the previous research on "misplacement' of people in long-stay care, and suggest that planners may need to be more discriminating in their analysis of which types of patient to transfer and what continuing care resources might be required. Failure to address these issues may lead to undue pressure on many of the continuing care placements.