ERIC Number: ED286313
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-May
Pages: 24
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Abuse of Mentally Retarded Persons: Characteristics of the Abused, the Abuser, and the Informer.
Marchetti, Allen
The possible casues of abuse of mentally retarded persons in residential facilities are examined and a study of all reported abuse cases occurring in Alabama's residential facilities from January, 1984, to September, 1986 is reviewed. Fifty-seven confirmed cases of abuse were identified for further examination using facility records and system data bases. No significant differences were found for age, sex, or racial factors. The abused population tended to be higher functioning in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) level and adaptive behavior when compared to the general facility population. It is concluded that increased attention should be focused on teaching staff behavior management and aggression control techniques and that staff should be rotated to less stressful areas of the facility on a regular basis. Staff profiles suggested that staff who commit abuse were primarily direct care personnel who are less eeucated and less well paid than the general staff population. There was a greater tendency for abuse to be reported by professionals and administrative staff but to be committed by direct care staff. The need for assigning more professional and administrative staff to residential areas and for paying greater attention to reporting and tracking abuse is stressed. (CL)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Policymakers; Administrators; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A