A National Study of Residential and Support Services for Elderly Persons with Mental Retardation. Project Report No. 22.

DOCUMENT RESUME EC 212 579 Anderson, D. J.; And Others A National Study of Residential and Support Services for Elderly Persons with Mental Retardation. Project Report No. 22. Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Dept. of Educational Psychology. Administration on Aging (DHHS), Washington, D.C.; Administration on Developmental Disabilities (DHHS), Washington, D.C. May 87 90DJ0075 211p. Center for Residential and Community Services, Minnesota University Affiliated Program on Developmental Disabilities, University of Minnesota, 6 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Dr., S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 ($15.00). Reports Descriptive (141) Statistical Data (110) MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. *Caregivers; Child Caregivers; Day Programs; *Delivery Systems; Demography; Group Homes; Health Needs; *Human Services; Individual Characteristics; Leisure Time; *Mental Retardation; National Surveys; Nursing Homes; *Older Adults; Personal Care Homes; Place of Residence; Residential Care; *Residential Institutions; Residential Pat,..?rns; Social Life; State Programs Detailed information is provided about the characteristics, needs, and service arrangements of 370 elderly persons with mental retardation living in 235 residential facilities operated or licensed by state developmental disabilities agencies. Representative national samples of foster care homes, small group homes, large private facilities, and large state-operated residential facilities that serve mentally retarded residents aged 63 and older were selected. Directors of day programs attended by sample members were also interviewed. State policies and practices were gathered through surveys of developmental disabilities and aging agencies and other data analysis. Survey results focus on the following topics: (1) careproviders (characteristics, experience, training, and involvement with other careproviders); (2) residential facilities (type of operation, location, size, history, staffing, licensure, reimbursement); (3) resident characteristics, including demographics, sex differences, legal status, level of mental retardation, additional diagnoses, independent living skills, adaptive equipment, communication skills, community living skills, and problem behavior; (4) health needs and related services, covering health-related limitations, medical care required, medications, hospitalizations, etc.; (5) social, leisure, and community activities; (6) day programs extent of participation, hours of participation, external versus internal day programs); (7) surveys of state agencies; and (8) analysis of data from the National Nursing Home Survey of 1977. (JDD) A National Study of Residential and Support Services for Elderly Persons with Mental Retardation U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 0Mce of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER lEfitCt :erns document has been reproduced as received from the Per Son Or OrganahOn obgtnatmg SAmbr changes have been made to mptove reproduction [wally Pomts of v.e* or op mons stated m th,s data, ment do not necessarily represent ott.cal OERI posMon or 001,v NIMIVVVONNX\X \\ZONWIN71.1XMMINNXX\MX 1XX\XVIONX Report No. 22 Center for Residential and Community Services Minnesota University Affiliated Programs University of Minnesota PERMISSIN TO REPRODUCE THIS Bruininks, R.H. & Hill, B.K. MATERIAL O HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)” A National Study of Residential and Support Services for Elderly Persons with Mental Retardation Deborah Anderson K. Charlie Lakin Robert H. Bruininks Bradley K. Hill Additional copies of this report may be obtained for $15 per copy, payable to the University of Minnesota. Order from: Center for Residertial and Community Services Minnesota University Affiliated Program University of Minnesota Department of Educational Psychology 207 Pattee Hall 150 Pillsbury Drive S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 The recommended citation for this paper is: Anderson, D., Lakin, K.C., Bruininks, R.H., & Hill, B.K. (1987). A national study of residential and support services for elderly persons with mental retardation (Report No. 22). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Department of Educational Psychology. This research was jointly funded by a grant (#90DJ0075) from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Administration on Aging, Office of Human Development Services. Contractors undertaking such projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their professional judgement in the conduct of the project. Points of view or opinions stated do not, therefore, necessarily represent the official position of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities or the Administration on Aging. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report represents the combined efforts of many people. In addition to the individuals who are listed as authors, a large number of people contributed to the completion of this report. We are very grateful to Connie McAlear of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities for her support and patience with us in completing this study. Heidi Street and Elizabeth Wright played a number of key roles in this project. As Research Assistants, they were instrumental in eliciting and editing responses to a long and complicated set of telephone interview and mail survey instruments. Their care and diligence through the interview process, as well as assistance in the development of tables and other means of summarizing the extensive information obtained from surveys, was essential to the completion of this project. Steve McCuire prepared the text and tables for this report. The quality of his work will be easily discerned as the report is reviewed. This work was completed in the midst of other reports and duties that are part of managing a very busy office. His many skills are greatly appreciated by the authors. Finally and foremost we must thank our respondents. This study required unusual amounts of time, reflection, and record keeping on the part of our respondents. These people graciously participated in a range of telephone interview and mail surveys, as well as telephone follow-up on their responses. They stuck with the study when they must have often wondered whether the product could ever be worth the trouble. We can only hope that with this report they will feel that the value of the undertaking was equal to the required effort. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or handicap.