This report presents information from the Home Care Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on the types of help needed by adults with chronic health problems who live outside of institutions. Home care items discussed include: (1) assistance in basic physical activities; (2) assistance in home management activities; (3) adults usually staying in bed all or most of the time; (4) adults with bowel or urinary trouble; (5) functional assistance; and (6) need for the help of another person. Variation in the need for assistance is examined by age, sex, marital status, living arrangement, family income, geographic region, and place of residence. Some information is also given for young adults between 18 and 44 years of age and for children between the ages of 6 and 17. Two-year average annual estimates are presented for the 1979-80 NHIS civilian noninstitutionalized population. The appendices contain technical notes on methods, definitions of certain terms used in the report, and a home care supplement form. Five figures and 14 tables are included throughout the text. (Author/NB)