States With The Best Elder-Abuse Protections

A growing population of American citizens are an easy target for abuse.

Older adults, especially women with disabilities, rely on caregivers for their needs. But their trust is increasingly being betrayed.

According to WalletHub, elder abuse happens every day and takes many forms. By one estimate, elder abuse affects as many as 5 million people per year, and more than 95 percent of all cases go unreported.

Some states are doing more than others about the problem.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia, using 14 key indicators of elder-abuse protection in three overall categories of metrics:

• Prevalence: the number of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints made to the state’s long-term care ombudsman, divided by the number of residents aged 65 or older. The metric was weighted at a total of 40 points out of 100.

• Resources: the total of state expenditures and funding spent on services per resident aged 65 or older. The metric was weighted at a total of 30 points out of 100.

• Protection: the legislative and institutional services and resources allocated to the prevention of elder abuse. The metric weighted at a total of 30 points out of 100.

In ascending order, these are the 10 states that WalletHub reported had the best elderly-abuse protections in 2018.

10. West Virginia – Total weighted score of 53.47

West Virginia ranked 18^th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in the weighted category of prevalence; 11^th in funding and expenditures of resources per resident aged 65 or older; and 21^st in legislative and institutional services and resources allocated to the prevention of elder abuse. The total weighted average put the Mountain State in 10^th place overall.

9. North Carolina – Total weighted score of 55.04

North Carolina ranked 19^th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in the category of prevalence, just one place behind West Virginia. The state ranked even lower in the resources category, coming in at 31. However, North Carolina ranked 2^nd among all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the category of protection. As a result, its total weighted average put the Tar Heel State in ninth place overall.

8. Pennsylvania – Total weighted score of 56.09

Pennsylvania ranked 4^th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the category of prevalence, but ranked in the middle of the pack at number 27^th in resources. Thanks to its ranking of 16^th in legislative and institutional protections, however, the state placed in the top 10 of states with the best elder-abuse protections. Its total weighted average put the Keystone State in eighth place overall.

7. Iowa – Total weighted score of 56.13

Iowa scored near the top of all states and the District of Columbia in the prevalence category, ranking 7^th. However, the state allocated fewer expenditures and less funding to prevent elder abuse than did other states, ranking it 24^th in resources. Iowa officials did much better in the category of legislative and institutional protections, ranking it 12^th in the country. Its total weighted average put the Hawkeye State in seventh place overall.

6. Vermont – Total weighted score of 56.60

Vermont scored near the top of the class in the prevalence category, ranking 11^th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The state ranked almost as high in resources, coming in 8^th place. However, Vermont did less well in the protections category, ranking 33^rd. Its total weighted average put the Green Mountain State in sixth place overall.

5. Arizona – Total weighted score of 57.47

Although Arizona ranked 30^th in prevalence of elder-abuse complaints filed with its state ombudsman, the state ranked 6^th in the expenditure and funding of resources to combat it and 8^th in legislative and institutional protections to prevent it. As a result, its weighted average put the Grand Canyon State in fifth place overall.

4. Michigan – Total weighted score of 57.74

Michigan ranked in 5^th place in the prevalence category and in 9^th place in the resources category. However, the state ranked 35^th in legislative and institutional protections to prevent elder abuse. Its total weighted average put the Great Lake State in fourth place overall.

3. Nevada – Total weighted score of 59.57

While Nevada ranked 21^st in prevalence of elder-abuse complaints filed and 24^th in legislative and institutional protections to prevent it, the state ranked 4^th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia in allocation of resources to fight it. As a result, its total weighted average put the Silver State in third place overall.

2. Wisconsin – Total weighted score of 60.66

Even though Wisconsin ranked 25^th in prevalence of elder-abuse complaints filed and 28^th in legislative and institutional protections to combat it, the state ranked 3^rd in funding and expenditures of resources to prevent it. Its total weighted average put the Badger State in second place overall.

1. Massachusetts – Total weighted score of 63.68

Massachusetts scored in the top five, top 10 and top 15 in all three categories, ranking it as the number one most proactive and reactive state in combating elder abuse in these United States. Massachusetts ranked 10^th in the prevalence of elder-abuse complaints filed, 5^th in expenditure and funding of resources to prevent it, and 14^th in legislative and institutional protections to stop it. Its total weighted average put the Bay State in first place overall.

To learn more, click here: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-elder-abuse-protection/28754/#ask-the-experts.