Viral video prompts questions about elder abuse reporting

By Randy Aldridge

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A video taken by a Wilmington man has gone viral on social media.

Jonathan Pigford said the video shows his elderly neighbor wandering alone and showing signs of neglect. Many people wondered if the situation had reached the level of abuse or neglect.

Sean Dwyer is program manager for adult services at New Hanover County’s Department of Social Services. While he could not speak directly about the viral video, he said that cases like this are tricky to navigate.

Reporting is key to getting help

Dwyer says that the key to getting someone the help they may need often starts with making a call.

“If it’s just streaming out there for you and other people, and everyone’s talking about it, but no one’s reported it to the entity that needs to be out there to look at it, all it does is delay that person’s care,” Dwyer said.

“I would just encourage them to report. These days, we have lots of different platforms to share information. In the end, we are still the entity that needs that information,” he said.

Understanding the difference between abuse and neglect

Dwyer said that knowing the signs of elder abuse before calling is important. It can help the responding agency determine whether it’s abuse or neglect.

“When someone tells us, oh, they’re being abused, a lot of people use it as kind of a blanket term. For us, it’s a caretaker is abusing someone,” Dwyer said. “When it comes to neglect, there’s actually two versions of neglect. We have caretaker neglect and self-neglect.”

Signs of abuse

• Any type of confinement or restraint as punishment
• Refusing services for somebody (having the ability to put services in place and choosing not to)
• Any type of physical act that violates the individual

Signs of neglect

Self-neglect (most common):

• Not having adequate resources and refusal to seek them out
• Isolation
• Not meeting basic needs such as hygiene and eating

Caretaker neglect:

• Exploitation
• Not meeting basic needs such as hygiene and eating

When in doubt, report

Dwyer stated that regardless of whether the signs are clear, an investigation cannot begin until an official report is filed.

“We’re asking if you see enough concern and you’re worried, please do make a report,” Dwyer said.

If you suspect elder abuse, call 910-798-3500. 

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Viral video prompts questions about elder abuse reporting 

Gillen's bill would require regular reporting of maltreatment trends

State Rep. Mark Gillen

In the wake of a Reading Eagle investigation that found a shroud of secrecy around police reporting and elder abuse in nursing homes, state Rep. Mark Gillen wants state departments charged with oversight to make more information available to the public.

Last week, Gillen, a Robeson Township Republican, introduced an amendment to House Bill 1124 that would require the Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Aging, and Human Services on a biennial basis to jointly track and report to the Legislature trends on the maltreatment of care-dependent people.

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Jim Cox, a Sinking Spring Republican, would expand a state statute dealing with neglect of care-dependent people to include abuse.

"We need enhanced transparency and the ability for the attorney general to be effective," Gillen said, noting the statute doesn't allow the state's top law enforcer to investigate and prosecute abuse.Gillen's amendment also requires the creation of an investigation memorandum that makes public - among other things - the alleged violation, a summary of findings, the caretaker name and conclusions.Advocates for the elderly praised the steps by lawmakers to address growing concerns over elder abuse. But given the number of adult children caring for aging parents, they also cautioned against releasing unsubstantiated reports."We don't want to punish people who haven't done anything wrong," said Sam Brooks, an attorney with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia and an advocate for the elderly. "Absent substantiation, really publishing this publicly can do more harm to people."Gillen said he welcomed the public input."I see this as part of the process, not a finished product," he said.  (Click to Continue)

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Gillen's bill would require regular reporting of maltreatment trends