Disability Vermont Alleges State Failed to Protect Elderly Man

A watchdog group has issued a report alleging that a state agency didn’t do enough to prevent an 80-year-old Vermont man from being neglected and financially exploited by his son over a five-month period in 2011.

The man, identified as John Doe, later died in a nursing home in October of that year.

John Doe had dementia, diabetes and depression, and he needed 24-hour care because of his frail condition. He lived with his son who neglected his caregiving needs, according to the report.

Disability Rights Vermont charges that the Vermont Adult Protective Services (APS) program failed to investigate allegations of abuse in a timely way, failed to provide adequate protective services, denied the elderly man access to emergency care and failed to substantiate clear neglect by a caregiver.

In addition, the federally funded watchdog organization says APS failed to maintain records that adequately demonstrated the reasons for these failures.

Disability Rights Vermont reported that although John Doe did not die as a result of the neglect, he suffered for months while the state could have taken action to protect him and ensure he received 24/7 care.

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Disability Rights Vermont Alleges State Failed to Protect Elderly Man