Types of residential care defined

Because the mentally retarded are a group of persons with different types and varying degrees of handicaps, it is essential that there be different types of facilities available to them. The following definitions of residential facilities represents groupings which take into consideration the needs of different age groups as well as variation in degree and type of handicap. 1. "Halfway house, hostel, group home" is a facility which offers to mentally retarded persons training and experience in skills needed for independent placement in the community. These include personal and social skills for the retardate who attends school, is employed or potentially employable, and will profit from short-term training in independent living not to exceed nine residents. 2. "Nursing care center, skilled or intermediate care facility" is a facility for mentally retarded persons who receive nursing care in addition to other needed care and treatment as defined under Article 33-07. 3. "Residential center" is a facility for the twenty-four-hour residential care of mentally retarded persons who require care or supervision. It provides an organized program of services needed by those admitted to the facility exceeding ten or more residents. 4. "Short-term care center", also known as respite, is a facility which provides intermittent care for mentally retarded for short periods of time. It is designed to provide a temporary separation from family or caretaker for mentally retarded persons during crisis periods such as illness or death of family members or caretakers, or to provide temporary relief for parents or caretakers from the care of a mentally retarded person when this is needed. It may also provide short-term care when necessary for diagnosis, observation or treatment of the mentally retarded person. This type of care may also be provided in any one of the residential care centers defined in this article.