In response to a questionnaire mailing, parents of mentally retarded children and social workers essentially agreed that such parents experience periodic crises during the child's development, rather than time-bound adjustment. Social workers tended to underestimate the impact on parents of later developmental periods. Clinical implications of the findings, which run counter to the prevalent professional view, are considered.

Our society highly values autonomy, independence, and freedom. In our model programs for the chronically mentally ill (CMI), we aim for these values and, in the process, may be doing a disservice to those people who cannot attain them. This article proposes that even the best in community care is not enough protection for many CMI. We need to do a better job of discriminating between who can and who cannot benefit from model community programs. We also need to develop a whole continuum of care that accepts the dependency of CMI people, and their various levels of functioning, as well as the progress, deterioration, and inevitable fluctuations that occur. Emphasis is placed on the need for sanctuary and asylum for many that only permanent housing of some kind can provide.

Since so little has been written on the subject of sexuality among the elderly in nursing homes, a study was conducted in some nursing home populations in Wisconsin. Resistance was encountered in certain areas but finally 63 residents (27 men and 36 women) agreed to be interviewed. A recently designed questionnaire was used, followed by a relaxed conversational period. Our findings indicate that the aged interviewees believed that sexual activity was appropriate for other elderly people in the homes; they personally were not involved, chiefly because of lack of opportunity. Most of them admitted having sexual thoughts and feelings. Medical and behavioral personnel showed great reluctance to discuss the subject. It would seem that, if the quality of life in old age is to be improved, there should be some provision in nursing homes for those who desire appropriate sexual activity.