Abstract:

Australia is experiencing a rapid increase in both the absolute numbers and proportion of people who are ageing with a lifelong disability. Aged care and disability are the two key social policy sectors that impact most directly on formal services available to this group. Potentially they may be included or excluded from either sector. This paper compares and contrasts Australian policy directions in aged care and disability. Using people with intellectual disability as an exemplar of those who are ageing with a lifelong disability, the paper analyses their location within and the services offered to them by each sector. The paper argues that neither sector adequately addresses the issues raised by the needs of this group and suggests why this is so. Directions for policy and service developments necessary to ensure that the needs of this growing population are met are suggested. These are broadly categorised as; systematically bridging existing gaps with specialist services; supporting inclusion and ensuring older people with lifelong disability are visible within the aged care system; adapting and resourcing the disability sector to facilitate ageing in place; and developing partnerships and joint planning aimed at the removal of cross- and intra-sector obstacles to accessing appropriate services.