Oct 21, 2009
PA needs adult protective services now
Pennsylvania is one of only six states without protective services for adults with disabilities. The National MS Society and other organizations have been advocating in Harrisburg for years, asking legislators to create this service.
Contact your state legislators to urge them to support passage of an adult protective services law in Pennsylvania.
ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES: WHY EXISTING LAWS AND SYSTEMS IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT ADULTS AGES 18-59
NBC 10 investigated Greg Harlen’s tragic story and highlights Pennsylvania’s need for an Adult Protective Services law. Greg had down syndrome and had a diagnosis of mental retardation. According to his family, Greg was happy and healthy living in the facility where he lived since he was a boy. Without warning, Greg wound up in the hospital with two broken hips and as a result got sick with pneumonia and died about a month later. Pennsylvania is one of only 6 states in the country that does not have an adult protective services law. Without this law, individuals between the ages of 18 and 59 with developmental disabilities -- like Greg -- have no safety net to protect them from instances of abuse and neglect. Pennsylvania must pass an adult protective services law in order to protect vulnerable adults, hold accountable the individuals and agencies charged with their care and empower law enforcement to investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those charge with abuse and neglect.