State and local protective-services officials explain who to call for suspected elder or adult-abuse on Nantucket

Ben Hutchins, learning and development specialist at the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, told the Nantucket Commission on Disability on Jan. 31 that his agency operates the statewide reporting hotline for alleged abuse or neglect of people with disabilities aged 18–59.

"So what we do at the DPPC is we investigate claims of abuse or neglect, against individuals between the ages of 18 to 59," Hutchins said, explaining that DPPC is the reporting agency for cases involving caregiver-perpetrated abuse of that population and works with state partners, including the Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Mental Health.

The exchange clarified which agency to contact for different situations and described how reports are screened, investigated and, when appropriate, referred to criminal authorities. The briefing matters because residents, mandated reporters and local emergency responders told commissioners they were unsure which number to call and how island logistics affect response times.

DPPC investigators are statewide and, when a report suggests criminal conduct, the agency’s colocated state police detective unit can be notified and work alongside civil investigators, Hutchins said. Victoria Gill, director of learning development and innovative projects at DPPC, added that DPPC also maintains a legal unit and other supports that can help people even when a matter does not meet DPPC’s jurisdiction.

Taryn Le Turgeon, assistant director for protective services at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (now the Executive Office of Aging and Independence), said her office investigates suspected abuse of people aged 60 and older who live in the community and are abused by someone they know. "We are very different than DPPC," she said. "We investigate abuse of anybody 60 or older residing in the community by somebody that they know." Le Turgeon noted that the office does not typically investigate alleged abuse by licensed health-care staff inside long-term care facilities; those matters are generally handled by the Department of Public Health.

Eddie Murphy, protective services director at Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, described how the local nonprofit handles reports for the Cape and Islands region, including Nantucket. He said Elder Services receives reports from the statewide central intake and assigns them to one of the agency’s investigators; the Nantucket caseload is covered by one dedicated worker each year who travels to the island by ferry or plane to complete assessments.

Both elder and DPPC programs accept reports from anyone, including self-reporting by older adults, mandated reporters such as police or medical staff, or concerned neighbors. Le Turgeon cited the central intake phone number used by elder protective services: 1-800-922-2275, and she said reports can also be filed online at mass.gov.

Le Turgeon and Murphy described the screening and timing rules that guide responses: elder protective services will screen reports within 48 hours and generally complete investigations or assessments within 30 days; lower-risk matters may be screened out or referred to other local services. Murphy said Elder Services staffs an on-call worker and supervisor for after-hours needs, but an immediate in-person island response can be constrained by travel schedules.

Hutchins described DPPC’s outreach and mandated-reporter training work. He said DPPC runs regular live mandated-reporter trainings online, and that DPPC is updating outreach materials and its website to improve public awareness. "Every month, the first Thursday and the third Thursday, I host a training online," Hutchins said, describing one route for local staff and community members to get instruction.

Commissioners and local officials asked about practical details for Nantucket: who physically travels to the island to investigate, how criminal cases are handled, and what local contacts exist. Murphy said Elder Services maintains a small Nantucket office and that Sherry Hunt runs the local office; he encouraged the commission to coordinate outreach and training with the island’s council on aging and first responders.

The presentation closed with commissioners discussing next steps for local outreach and training invitations. Hutchins, Gill, Le Turgeon and Murphy offered to return for on-island trainings and to help the commission draft invitations and public notices on how to report suspected abuse.

The commission did not take formal action on any of the presentation items during the Jan. 31 meeting.

Ending — The briefing left commissioners with concrete contact paths and training options to publicize on Nantucket. Commissioners said they would follow up to schedule local trainings and to share the DPPC and elder-protective-services materials with the island’s council on aging and first responders.