2016’s States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections

Abuse happens every day and takes many forms. Anyone can become a victim of abuse, but vulnerable older Americans — especially those who are women, have disabilities and rely on others for care or other type of assistance — are among the easiest targets for such misconduct. By one estimate, elder abuse affects as many as 5 million people per year, and 96 percent of all cases go unreported.

Unless an aggressive course of action is taken to prevent further abuse, the problem will grow as America becomes an increasingly aging nation. The U.S. Census Bureau expects the population aged 65 and older to nearly double from 43.1 million in 2012 to 83.7 million in 2050, much to the credit of aging Baby Boomers who began turning 65 in 2011.

Fortunately, states recognize that elder abuse is a real and growing issue. But sadly, only some are fighting hard enough to stop it. WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 10 key indicators of elder-abuse protection. The data set ranges from “share of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints” to “financial elder-abuse laws.” Continue reading below for WalletHub’s findings, expert commentary and a full description of their methodology.

Main Findings

States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections