Access and limitations of community services for older persons - a guide for the GP.
BACKGROUND
Increasingly aged care services are shifting from residential to community care. As a result, systems of access to services for older persons in Australia have become more complex. It is important for general practitioners to know how to navigate these systems.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a practical guide for the GP on available aged care community services; how to refer to them, how to recognise their limitations, and how to build partnerships to improve care.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a range of affordable community services for older Australians. However, the system has limitations including long waiting lists in some areas and lack of continuity of care. Improvement of communication between medical practitioners and community services is required.
Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales. lf.low@unsw.edu.au
Lee-Fay
LF
Low
Henry
H
Brodaty
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005194:Family Practice; D006078:Government Programs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014850:Waiting Lists