The worries of the elderly may often prompt a visit to the doctor's office. While these concerns and worries may be clearly articulated by some patients, in others they are hidden behind physical complaints. Mrs Shorten, an 83-year-old woman, walked the five blocks from her home to her doctor's office in the wind and rain. Dr Tam examined Mrs Shorten but found no obvious organic basis for her distress. The doctor wondered if her presentation was related to anxiety. Although Mrs Shorten had been widowed for several years, she had managed to maintain her modest home without any assistance. The doctor rapidly responded to the patient's physical concerns. But the most significant intervention understood her social situation and the worries which fuelled her anxiety. At times of 'medical crises' doctors must look beyond a patient's physical presentation and understand all dimensions of the person.