PA Among Nation's Leaders In Stopping Elder Abuse: Report

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania is one of the best states in America for protecting elders from abuse, according to a new study. The research comes as the state's healthcare system continues its recovery from the pandemic and facilities grapple with staffing issues, overcrowding, and more.

WalletHub's new list ranking 2022’s "States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections" has Pennsylvania coming in at 9th overall, doing proud the state's hundreds of nursing homes and long term care facilities, along with its expansive retirement infrastructure.

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The personal-finance website compared all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., across 16 key metrics, from "elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints" to "financial elder-abuse laws." Here's where Pennsylvania sat on several of WalletHub's key metrics:

• complaints of elder abuse, gross neglect and exploitation: 3rd lowest
• total expenditures on elder-abuse prevention: 7th
• total longterm-care ombudsman-program funding: 22nd
• number of eldercare organizations and services: 29th
• financial elderly-abuse laws: 26th

Neighboring New Jersey was among the lowest performers on the list, placing 48th overall. Wisconsin placed first.

About 1 in 10 Americans age 60-plus have experienced some form of elder abuse, according to the National Council on Aging. But only 1 in 25 incidents gets reported to authorities, according to a 2020 study cited by the National Center on Elder Abuse.

Signs of Elder Abuse

The National Center on Elder Abuse lists the most frequently observed signs of potential mistreatment.

Psychological abuse

• Emotional distress or agitation
• Withdrawal from activities of daily life
• Uncommunicative or non-responsive
• Unusual behaviors commonly attributed to dementia (examples: sucking, biting, rocking)
• Lack of self-care
• Lower self-esteem, feelings of despair or a sense of worthlessness

Physical abuse

• Bruises, abrasions, welts, lacerations, or rope marks
• Sudden behavioral changes
• Medication overdose or chemical restraints
• Physical indicia of punishment, including evidence of physical restraints
• Falls, including broken eyeglasses or frames
• Bite, strangulation, burn marks or patterns of injury
• Sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding
• Open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
• Head trauma and/or bone fractures

Financial abuse

• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Untreated bed sores
• Poor personal hygiene
• Unattended or untreated health problems
• Unsafe living conditions
• Unsanitary living conditions

Sexual abuse

• Bruises, abrasions, or lacerations around the breasts or genital area
• Unexplained sexually transmitted disease or genital infection
• Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding or incontinence
• Increased anxiety or depressive symptoms
• Sleep disturbances, agitation, or restlessnes

For resources on elder abuse in Pennsylvania, check out National Center on Elder Abuse's list of state resources.