MA Rates # 1 in U.S. for Best Elder Abuse Protection, RI Ranks Poorly, Says New Study

Methodology

In order to determine the states with the best protection against elder abuse, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: 1) Prevalence, 2) Resources and 3) Protection.

We evaluated these dimensions using 14 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the “best protection against elder abuse.”

Finally, we determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Prevalence – Total Points: 40

Share of Elder-Abuse, Gross-Neglect and Exploitation Complaints: Full Weight (~40.00 Points)
Notes: 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.

Resources – Total Points: 30

Total Expenditures on Elder-Abuse Prevention per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Total Expenditures on Legal-Assistance Development per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Total Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Funding per Resident Aged 65 & Older: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)

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 Resident 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 Resident 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 percentage 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 cams 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.