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Abstract

Assessing the level of functioning of elderly clients is important in allocating services and in ensuring that the least restrictive environment is achieved. We examine the relationship between adaptive behavior and level of care, using placement level as an index of level of care. Subjects were 25 elderly clients, aged 55 to 77 years (M= 66.2), having a life-long diagnosis of mental retardation, and living in state-operated facilities. We used three scales of adaptive behavior: the Vineland, the AAMD, and the AFABS, a recently developed scale for the elderly. We conclude that adaptive behavior is a major factor in predicting level of care and that the Adult Functional scale has several advantages over other scales when assessing an elderly population.

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Measuring Adaptive Behavior in Elderly Developmentally Disabled Clients

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