A study of 361 urban frail elderly revealed an association between higher rates of social interaction and more reliance on informal aid but less reliance on formal agencies. Given the substantial degree of manifest “need” for services in this population, it may well be that informal social ties block proper access to useful services rather than lead to more humane and cheaper alternatives. That ambiguity points to the need for studies using primary data not only from the older person but also directly from members of the social network concerning help seeking episodes.