Journey into Understanding Mentally Retarded People's Experiences around Death

Abstract

Chronicles a seven-year journey working with mentally retarded adults who traditionally had avoided mentioning resident deaths. Notes how procedural changes, a deepening sense of community, reduction in staff fears, and attitude changes toward death contributed to a new attempt at dealing with this inevitable process. Stresses the observations that the reactions and responses of the mentally retarded resembles those of normal people. Bases observations on clinical data gathered from a variety of settings both within and beyond the institutional context.