NEW JERSEY – New Jersey is among the worst states in the nation for protecting older adults from abuse, ranking 43rd overall in a new WalletHub analysis released Wednesday.
The personal finance company publishes its States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections report each year to highlight the challenges facing seniors — a population especially vulnerable to financial scams, neglect and physical or emotional mistreatment, particularly during periods of economic strain.
WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 16 indicators, including the number of reported elder-abuse complaints, financial-protection laws, long-term care oversight and available support services.
New Jersey ranked:
- 43rd overall
- 45th in elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints per resident 65+
- 24th in total spending on elder-abuse prevention
- 15th in long-term care ombudsman program funding
- 32nd in the number of eldercare organizations and services
- 22nd in nursing-home quality
Here are the top 5 states with the best elder-abuse protections:
- Wisconsin
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
Here are the top 5 states with the worst elder-abuse protections:
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- California
- Tennessee
- Delaware
To see the full list, click here.
