The Federal Government has announced its terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which will be based in Adelaide.

Key points: The royal commission will inquire into all forms of Commonwealth-funded aged care

The royal commission will inquire into all forms of Commonwealth-funded aged care An interim report is required by the end of October 2019

An interim report is required by the end of October 2019 It was was prompted by a string of disturbing cases

A judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and a former CEO of Medicare Australia have been appointed to lead the commission.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Justice Joseph McGrath and Lynelle Briggs had strong investigative skills and extensive experience in corporate and public-sector governance.

"They will need to determine the full extent of the problems in aged care and to understand how we can meet the challenges and the opportunities of delivering aged care services now and into the future," Mr Morrison said.

"This is very much looking at what has happened, but it is also very much about understanding what needs to be done into the future.

It will be directed to inquire into all forms of Commonwealth-funded aged care, wherever they are delivered.

The commissioners will be required to produce an interim report by the end of next October, and a final report by the end of April 2020.

The Prime Minister announced plans for the inquiry last month following a string of disturbing cases involving abuse, neglect and mistreatment in nursing homes throughout the country.

Terms of reference 'deliberately broad'

The commission's terms of reference were signed off by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove yesterday.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the terms were "deliberately broad" to let the commissioners look into quality and safety issues and examples across the aged care sector.

The commission will cover care for people in aged care facilities, in-home care services and care for young Australians with disabilities living in a residential aged care environment.

Our stories on aged care Australians are sharing their experiences of aged care. See our full coverage

Australians are sharing their experiences of aged care. Do you have a story you would like to share? Please email aged.care@abc.net.au .

Do you have a story you would like to share? Please email . For more information on how the ABC is covering aged care, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"How best to deliver care services, how best to deliver for the increasing number of Australians with dementia," Mr Hunt said.

"The future challenges and opportunities for delivering accessible and affordable high-quality care.

"What the Government and the aged [care] sector community can do in relation to ensuring quality and… allowing people greater choice and control, best delivering services through innovative care and investment and, in particular, noting the importance of providing options for young people with disabilities who have been placed in [an] aged care environment."

Mr Morrison said establishing a culture of respect for senior Australians was the major feedback in more than 5,100 responses to consultation, which started when the commission was announced three weeks ago.

"It is that culture of respect that actually ensures that people are treated with dignity and the care that they deserve," Mr Morrison said.

The commission will not include the disability sector, as some had called for.

Alma Krecu and Stewart Johnston have both had family at the Oakden aged care facility and have spoken out about alleged abuse. ( ABC News: Ben Pettitt )

Adelaide base welcomed by campaigner

Abuse at the State Government-run Oakden aged care facility in Adelaide's north-east will be a significant focus of the inquiry.

It was closed about a year ago after details about conditions at the home were revealed by ABC News.

Stewart Johnston, whose mother was allegedly abused at Oakden, said he was glad the Federal Government picked Adelaide as the royal commission's base.

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"I think Oakden became a wake-up call for us as a nation that all is not as it seems and we need to be looking further and deeper, and of course when we did, what we found was very unpleasant," Mr Johnston said.

"As a nation, we collectively stood on our feet and said 'that's enough'."

A report by South Australia's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption in February made damning findings of maladministration against five individuals and the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.

Labor MP Mark Butler said the party supported the establishment of the royal commission.

"We want to see it unfold in a way that means that all of the needs and interests and opportunities of living longer lives are met by the Australian Government," Mr Butler said.

If you have a story you would like to share with the ABC about Aged Care, please email aged.care@abc.net.au.

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