Current and future trends in state-operated mental retardation institutions in the United States

Results of a national study of state-operated institutional care in the United States were presented. The relations among census reduction, staffing level, and resident cost were explored. Resident cost escalated dramatically in recent years, primarily because staffing levels in the states remained relatively stable, whereas the institutional census continued to decline. Econometric projections suggest that by the year 2000, the institutional census will fall below 55,000 persons, cost per resident will rise to more than $113,000 per year, and 28 to 51 institutions will close.