Coordination and integration of disability services for the elderly: a viewpoint.

The provision of disability services for the elderly in Australia is fragmented with areas of duplication arising chiefly from disorganized planning with the States and Territories providing certain services independent of Commonwealth contribution. It is suggested that the Commonwealth should be responsible for the complete provision of disability services for the elderly comprising community services and residential care. Private providers competing with each other for efficient provision of such services should be sought with financial incentives in funding arrangements encouraging healthy ageing thereby reducing expenditure in health care in the next decades.