Mary Phaneuf has spent years advocating for her foster son, Timothy Cheeks, who has Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect. In 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) terminated its contract with the Center for Human Development (CHD) after serious neglect, including failing to take Tim to medical appointments for seven years. Tim was then moved to a residence operated by the Mental Health Association (MHA).
Initially, care improved under MHA, but as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded and staff turnover increased, many of the same issues reemerged:
- Loss of Benefits: Tim’s Social Security and MassHealth coverage lapsed due to administrative failures, leaving him without essential services for over a year.
- Medical Neglect: Tim’s podiatry care was ignored despite documented needs and a care plan. Staff gave false explanations and failed to administer prescribed medications.
- Medication Error: In 2022, Tim was mistakenly given another client’s medications, resulting in hospitalization. The incident was substantiated as abuse.
- Behavioral Health Disruptions: Counseling sessions were missed due to miscommunication and false claims, affecting Tim’s emotional well-being.
- Day Program Neglect: MHA failed to register or fund Tim’s day program activities for over a year, until Mary’s family intervened.
DDS staff acknowledged the severity of these issues and encouraged Mary to report them to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC). Mary has since requested a formal investigation into MHA’s care practices.
Read more about this story on the COFAR blog.