title: Costs of family care for adults with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.
abstract: "Out-of-pocket" spending by families supporting an adult family member with mental retardation or related developmental disability was characterized and estimated. Annualized nonreimbursed spending among a sample of 99 Chicago-area households was evaluated through survey and telephone interview across 10 categories of routine daily living expenses and disabilities-related services. The average annual out-of-pocket cost was $6,348. Average pre-tax income for the sample households was $37,657. Although wealthier households reported higher levels of spending, the percentage of household income represented by out-of-pocket costs increased significantly as family incomes decreased. Results were discussed in the context of families as a focus for service planning and public policy and the importance of the family to the nation's system of care.
authors.affiliation: Institute on Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago 60608.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fujiura
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roccoforte
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braddock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002641:Chicago; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014505:Urban Population