Sunday, December 6, 2020

Utah is one of the worst states at protecting elders from abuse, study finds


By Adam Forgie

Utah is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to protecting senior citizens, coming in at #48 out of 51 in a new study's ranking of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Elder abuse of those 60 and older is a growing problem in the United States, with as many as 13 out of 14 cases going unreported. Disabled females who rely on others for care are the most vulnerable, a new WalletHub study finds.

Elder abuse affects every one in ten people age 60 and older in the country, by one estimate. The problem will only continue to grow as America's population of those 65 and older is expected to double by 2050. In 2012, there were 43.1 million Americans 65 or older. The number of senior citizens in the country is expected to hit 85.7 million by 2050.

In a new study, experts looked at 16 key metrics to determine the best and worst states when it comes to protecting America's elders. We've included the study's methodology below the list of states.

An old woman sitting in a wheelchair at the the door of an institution. (Getty Images)

The study's authors say:

Our data set ranges from elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints to financial elder-abuse laws.”

2020's STATES WITH THE BEST ELDER-ABUSE PROTECTIONS

  1. Massachusetts
  2. Wisconsin
  3. Vermont
  4. Michigan
  5. West Virginia
  6. Virginia
  7. Washington, D.C.
  8. Iowa
  9. Louisiana
  10. Maine
  11. Wasington
  12. North Carolina
  13. Pennsylvania
  14. Arizona
  15. New York
  16. Oklahoma
  17. Hawaii
  18. Maryland
  19. New Hampshire
  20. Texas
  21. Rhode Island
  22. Ohio
  23. Alaska
  24. Illinois
  25. Alabama
  26. Minnesota
  27. Florida
  28. Kentucky
  29. Kansas
  30. Connecticut
  31. Idaho
  32. Mississippi
  33. North Dakota
  34. Missouri
  35. South Dakota
  36. Indiana
  37. Colorado
  38. Arkansas
  39. Wyoming
  40. Delaware
  41. Georgia
  42. Oregon
  43. Nebraska
  44. Tennessee
  45. New Mexico
  46. Nevada
  47. Montana
  48. Utah
  49. California
  50. South Carolina
  51. New Jersey

METHODOLOGY

Prevalence – Total Points: 40

Elder-Abuse, Gross-Neglect and Exploitation Complaints per 100,000 Residents Aged 65 & Older: Triple Weight (~24.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints by the number of residents aged 65 and older. “Complaints” include those made to the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Estimated Elder Fraud Rate: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the number of elder fraud reports by the number of elderly residents. “Elder fraud”, also called “elder financial abuse” or “elder financial exploitation”, is defined as the misappropriation or abuse of financial control in a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, resulting in harm to the elderly victim.

Elder Fraud Loss Amount per Reported Frauds: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)

Resources – Total Points: 30

Total Expenditures on Elder-Abuse Prevention per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the total dollars spent on elder-abuse prevention by the number of residents aged 65 and older.

Total Expenditures on Legal-Assistance Development per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the total dollars spent on legal assistance development by the number of residents aged 65 and older.

Total Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Funding per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing the total dollars spent on long-term ombudsman program funding by the number of residents aged 65 and older.

Protection – Total Points: 30

Financial Elderly-Abuse Laws: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of such legislation.

Eldercare Organizations & Services per 100,000 Residents Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)

Presence of Elder-Abuse Forensic Centers: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of Elder Abuse Forensic Centers in a state.

Presence of Elder Abuse Working Groups: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: An “Elder-Abuse Working Group” is defined by the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center as “an entity such as a task force, council, commission, or non-profit organization, convened to address elder abuse issues at the state level.”

Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen per 100,000 Residents Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)

Frequency of Assisted-Living Facilities Inspections: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)

Quality of Nursing Homes: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of certified nursing-home beds rated 4 or 5 stars.

Presence of Laws Allowing Surveillance Cams in Nursing Homes: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of state laws allowing surveillance cameras in nursing homes.

Presence of Elder Justice Task Forces: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of an Elder Justice Task Force in a state.

Presence of Elder-Abuse Shelters: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This binary metrics measures the presence or absence of elder-abuse shelters in a state.

Read the full study here

Full Article & Source:

1 comment:

  1. Tell anyone you know in PA that nursing homes there are keeping successful survivors of covid 19 locked down with NEW covid 19 patients and then tricking or putting survivors into hospice care. They remove all supportive care because of hospice rules and anyone over 59 is getting sick from everything BUT sarscov2!
    You can guess what the death certificates will state as COD!

    ReplyDelete