Environmental characteristics of residential facilities for mentally retarded persons in the United States.
This study was designed to assess environmental characteristics and other facility, resident, and staff characteristics in a national sample of 236 public and community residential facilities stratified by size and geographic location. In a comparison of facilities in five size categories, small community facilities had the most positive treatment environments, as measured by the scale Characteristics of the Treatment Environment, more home-like environments, lower costs, more satisfied staff members, more able residents, and fewer nonambulatory residents. In a stepwise regression analysis, size remained significant as a predictor of positive treatment environments when controlling for staff job satisfaction and resident ability.
D006208:Halfway Houses; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States