Advocates encourage reporting of elder abuse
By Debbie Gilbert
dgilbert@gainesvilletimes.com
POSTED April 16, 2008 11:50 p.m.
In observance of National Victims’ Rights Week, the Georgia Department of Human Resources is urging people to report suspected cases of elder abuse.
Coincidentally, the initiative comes one week after a Gainesville man and his girlfriend were arrested and charged with abusing the man’s 79-year-old mother.
Gladys Smallwood died April 6 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, about six weeks after she was removed from the Hazel Street home of her son Larry Smallwood. Authorities said the woman was found suffering from malnutrition and lying in her own waste.
Larry Smallwood, 56, and Brenda Ivey, 46, were charged with felony cruelty to a person older than 65. Hall County Sheriff’s Maj. Jeff Strickland has said additional charges could be filed based on results of an autopsy.
The couple were also charged with forgery in connection with cashing two of Gladys Smallwood’s Social Security checks. And Ivey had a prior charge of simple battery, for allegedly hitting Gladys Smallwood in the face during an argument about food in July.
"If a 3-year-old gets smacked around, people say, ‘They can’t defend themselves,’" she said. "But if it’s an 85-year-old, they say, ‘Well, that’s a grown-up.’ People don’t want to get involved."
But if the frail elderly were able to defend themselves, there wouldn’t be state laws set up to protect them. Freeman said agencies need the public’s help in detecting cases of abuse.
"Everybody needs to be vigilant," she said. "And if you’re not sure who to call, you can always call the police.’
Abridged
SOURCE: gainsvilleTimes
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