Focus is on giving utmost attention to the desires of the person with a disability in how he or she would like to live, and to support the individual in having control over choices of lifestyle. People in supported living may need little or no services from professionals, or they may need 24-hour personal care. The kind and amount of supports are tailored to the individual's needs. The average number was 22.5 people in 1977, and so has continued to drop over the past 19 years. Community services also include other non-residential types of services that support adults in their own homes, supplement services to individuals who live in the community and support families in keeping their child with a disability at home.
Mental retardation affects each individual differently.
While some may need 24-hour care, others are able to live independently or with minimal supports. That is why it is so important for individuals and families to be able to choose flexible programs and services that best meet their needs. Study after study has shown that community living enables people with disabilities to live happier, healthier and more productive lives. Giving people a real sense of home and community, along with a feeling of independence, can go a long way to contributing to their sense of self-worth and well being. In many cases, community support enables people to live with or near their families.