(RALEIGH) -- A new study suggests more than 60 percent of adult care home residents have some kind of mental illness or other special need.  The report was presented to the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging, which is looking at ways to deal with the increasing number of elderly residents in the state.

North Carolina Institute of Medicine president Pam Silberman said adult care facilities need better screening techniques to identify those with special needs.  "You've heard of some example in North Carolina where residents have killed other residents.  That's the extreme example. It doesn't happen very often, but there are situations where there are assaults, inappropriate sexual behavior, those are the types of issues that we're trying to address," Silberman.

The study commission is expected to recommend several changes to address the new report. This includes a pilot program to fund more independent supported housing.