Intermediate care facilities for people with mental retardation (ICF/MR) are certified Medicare/Medicaid facilities that provide treatment to persons with mental retardation or other related conditions. Many of the people who are served by this program are also non-ambulatory, have seizure disorders, behavior problems, mental illness, are visually-impaired or hearing-impaired, or have a combination of these conditions.

ICF/MRs provide their patients with a protected residential setting, ongoing evaluation, planning, 24-hour supervision, coordination, and integration for health or rehabilitative services to help individuals function at their greatest ability.

All individuals receiving ICF/MR services must financially qualify for Medicaid assistance.

The basic principles of ICF/MR facilities
According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare the basic principles of ICF/MR facilities are:

1. Each individual has capacity for growth and development
2. Each individual should have access to services that enhance his/her development, well-being and quality of life
3. Each individual should have access to the most normal and least restrictive social and physical environments consistent with his/her needs
4. Each individual’s services should be delivered in accordance with a single, comprehensive individual rehabilitation plan that is developed, monitored, coordinated, and revised by members of a duly constituted interdisciplinary team

How do I select an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded?
With over 6,500 intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded nationwide, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Here are some tips:

1. Location: Patients often do better when they can be supported by family and friends. Make sure the ICF/MR is within a comfortable travel distance.

2. Availability: Verify the ICF/MR is currently taking patients.

3. Services provided: Verify the ICF/MR offers the services you need.

4. Quality: Quality is often overlooked but extremely important. WhereToFindCare.com is the only place that gives you a quality score to assist you in choosing an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded: the consumer quality score.

The consumer quality score is the percentage of people who rated their ICF/MR on WhereToFindCare.com and said they received quality care. This experience-based ICF/MR satisfaction score cannot be found elsewhere today except by word of mouth.

Have you had experiences with intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the ICF/MR on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded.

5. Recommendations: Word of mouth recommendations can tell us whether we can get along with providers on a personal level. Ask friends, family, and other associates if they have had experiences with the ICF/MRs on your list. You can also find word of mouth recommendations on WhereToFindCare.com.

6. Tour the ICF/MR: If possible, tour the ICF/MR. Verify the ICF/MR is clean, staff are professional, and the ICF/MR can accomodate the patient's needs.

How can WhereToFindCare.com help you find the best intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded?
Use the ICF/MR search tool above to locate ICF/MRs in your area. With the report generated, you can view quality information, word of mouth recommendations from people in your community, exceptional healthcare workers at ICF/MRs(we call them CareStars), photos, services provided, insurance accepted, contact information, driving directions, and much more.