At the local hospital in Laerdal a geriatric team has been established since May 1991, and is organized as a project. Instead of a specialist in geriatrics the hospital has used a general practitioner with some geriatric experience and an interest in elderly patients. The team has also included a nurse, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. The services offered by the team have been well received by patients, general practitioners and other health workers in the region. It has now been decided that the team shall continue on a permanent basis from 1994.