Persons with mental retardation in nursing homes in 1977 and 1985

Findings from the 1977 and 1985 National Nursing Home Surveys with respect to residents with mental retardation were compared. The single most notable finding was that very little changed over the 8-year period. The size of the mentally retarded population changed little (remaining at an estimated 40,500), the characteristics of the population remained essentially the same, and the services received by residents with mental retardation in 1985 remained at essentially the same low levels as those found in 1977. Implications of the findings as they relate to the initiative begun with the passage of P.L. 100-203 in 1987 and the forthcoming regulations to guide its implementation were discussed.