Trends in Residential Services for People Who are Mentally Retarded: 1977–1982

Abstract

This paper summarizes and compares the results of two national surveys of residential facilities for people who are mentally retarded. The results from 1977 and 1982 national surveys of all state-licensed, state-contracted, or state-operated facilities demonstrate a residential population of static total size but changing characteristics. Most notable were a decreasing number of children in out-of-home residential care and an increasing proportion of persons who are severely/profoundly handicapped in community-based residences. The number of smaller facilities increased substantially.