Residential transitions of adults with mental retardation: predictors of waiting list use and placement.

Predictors of residential planning and placement among 461 families of adults with mental retardation living at home were examined prospectively over a 4.5-year period. Factors predicting whether an adult's name would be put on a waiting list for residential placement were a diagnosis of Down syndrome, higher unmet service needs, smaller parental support networks, and better maternal health. Predictors of residential placement were being on a waiting list, poorer maternal health, and older age of the adult child. Result from qualitative analyses of parental reasons for use of the waiting list or of placement were also presented. Findings were interpreted using stress and coping, family life cycle, and postponed launching models.