Community and family contact: an evaluation of small community homes for adults with severe and profound mental handicaps

Two studies examined the frequency of community and family contacts of 10 adults with severe and profound mental handicaps living in small, community-based homes, first with their previous institutional experience and second in comparison with adults with similar handicaps living in larger community units. Adults in the small homes used community amenities significantly more than they did when in institutions and also significantly more than residents of larger community units. They experienced greater family contact than when they lived in more distant institutions, but not significantly more than residents of larger community units which also served local areas. Within the small homes, people newly admitted from their family homes had significantly greater family involvement than those transferred from institutions. The results are related to the characteristics of the residential settings, such as location, staff factors, operational policy, and autonomy of management.