Elderly people, who often rely on a fixed income, are particularly vulnerable to financial, emotional, and physical abuse. To shed light on this important issue, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its annual report on the States With the Best Elder-Abuse Protections, as well as expert commentary.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 16 key indicators of elder-abuse protection. The data set ranges from each state's share of all elder abuse complaints to their laws concerning financial elder abuse.
Elder-Abuse Protections in New York (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 30th
- 10th – Elder-Abuse, Gross-Neglect & Exploitation Complaints*
- 33rd – Total Expenditures on Elder-Abuse Prevention*
- 37th – Total Long-Term Care Ombudsman-Program Funding*
- 42nd – Number of Eldercare Organizations & Services*
- 15th – Number of Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen*
- 31tst – Nursing-Homes Quality
*Per resident age 65+
Expert Commentary
What are the most common types of elder abuse?
“Elder abuse can often go initially unnoticed and may be under-reported, so it is important to be aware of potential signs and symptoms. Some common type of elder abuse includes physical, verbal, emotional and/or sexual abuse, financial exploitation and caregiver neglect, which can sometimes occur unintentionally. Thus, elder abuse can include not just physical signs but chronic mistreatment and exploitation that can impact psychological health and well-being, independence, and also lead to devastating financial loss that can go initially undetected.”
Alan Castel, Ph.D. – Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
“The types of older adult abuse include physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, caregiver neglect, self-neglect, and abandonment. Since not all abuse is detected or reported, the true incidence and prevalence of abuse is not known. Of the abuse that is reported, self-neglect and financial abuse are common.”
David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, FACHE, ACSW, C-ASWCM – Assistant Professor; Affiliate Faculty at Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging, Florida Gulf Coast University
How can policymakers protect the elderly from abuse, financial or otherwise?
“It is important to be aware of the prevalence of elder abuse, and the situations that can give rise to these sorts of situations and opportunities. It may come as a surprise that elder abuse can often be a result of a family member or caretaker, and can occur in the home, and does not just affect institutionalized or highly vulnerable older adults. Thus, policy needs to consider how anyone can become vulnerable, and make services accessible so that a victim is not at risk for future abuse, as some people may feel shame or embarrassment when reporting elder abuse.”
Alan Castel, Ph.D. – Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
“In Florida, the Adult Protective Services Program works to prevent further harm to vulnerable adults who are the victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect (Chapter 415, F.S.). Florida also has strong fraud prevention statutes which serve to disincentivize fraud commonly perpetrated against vulnerable older adults. Additional opportunities that might help policy makers protect older adults from abuse could include enhancing funding and professional staff resources for abuse reporting, investigation, and detection. Many localities across the country have insufficient aging-related resources available to address the issue of abuse optimally. For example, policy solutions might include annual older adult abuse and neglect assessments and/or more proactive financial auditing support resources.”
David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, FACHE, ACSW, C-ASWCM – Assistant Professor; Affiliate Faculty at Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging, Florida Gulf Coast University
What can families do to protect elderly family members from being financially abused?
“It is important for people to be more aware of the prevalence and susceptibility of elder abuse, and this can happen through education, communication and counseling. Families can work together to monitor financial needs and protect assets, and find trusted resources to help safeguard loved ones from situations that can escalate to elder abuse and financial fraud, which can target anyone but is increasingly more prevalent and costly in older age.”
Alan Castel, Ph.D. – Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
“Family members can employ many practical strategies to protect older family members from abuse. Some of these include instituting a trusted family member as a financial power of attorney, having shared bank accounts with this trusted person when appropriate/desired, having an accountant, certified elder law attorney, financial plan ner, and/or money manager involved in regular or significant financial transactions. Other strategies might include random financial auditing, developing written agreements with caregivers clearly defining financial arrangements and limiting gifts. Early reporting of suspected abuses can reduce losses as well when not preventable. Where memory impairment is concerned proactive planning and focus are required to support this population and other vulnerable adults.”
David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, FACHE, ACSW, C-ASWCM – Assistant Professor; Affiliate Faculty at Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging, Florida Gulf Coast University