For better or worse? Impact of residential placement on families

Postplacement adaptation was studied in 106 families with a member living in a residential facility. Respondents reported on three broad areas of functioning: involvement with the member in placement, well-being, and perception of placement advantages and disadvantages. Although respondents readily reported both pros and cons of placement, more than 90% concluded that, on balance, the living arrangement was an advantage for themselves, the child, and other family members. Families with children under age 15, contrasted with families of adolescents and adults, visited more often, reported the highest stress and caretaking burden, as well as the lowest marital adjustment and advantage to placement. Families of adults, for whom living away from the natural home is normative, seemed to have adapted well postplacement.