Comparison of elderly and adult mentally retarded persons in community and institutional settings.

Four hypotheses were tested to determine whether there are significant differences between elderly and adult mentally retarded persons living in institutional and community-based settings with respect to cognitive, medical, and functional impairments and service needs and utilization. The findings did not support the hypotheses that such differences exist, except with respect to service needs and utilization. The implications of these results for policy and program development were discussed.