A vast majority of nursing homes take great care of their residents. There are certainly plenty of retirement homes in Florida, and thousands of retirees flock to the state every year to enjoy the sunshine and coastline. However, there is still improvement these homes can make throughout the state to prevent elder abuse and neglect.
Every state in the country has laws on the books to help prevent elder abuse, but it can still occur. A recent study occurred that examined which states had the best protection to prevent elder abuse and which states had the fewest protections. Massachusetts ranked the best while South Carolina was at the bottom of the list. Florida ranked in the middle in 22nd place. While Florida is by no means a bad place for people to retire, improvements are possible. That statement is true of every state in the nation. Therefore, it is critical for lawmakers to work harder to ensure senior citizens have the necessary protections.
Where else did Florida rank?
Regarding total complaints involving elder abuse, exploitation and gross neglect, Florida ranked sixth. The state ranked 36th concerning total expenditures involving elder abuse prevention. Surprisingly, the state ranked dead-last when it came to the total number of nursing home organizations and services. There is still a lot of work to do. While lawmakers need to establish more protections, it is up to residents and loved ones to be wary of abuse or neglect and to report it to the authorities as soon as possible.
How did the study determine these rankings?
As far as ending up at a total ranking, the study took into account prevalence, protection and resources. The total number of elder abuse complaints received within the state got weighted on a scale of 40 points. Next, protection received 30 points total and considered the presence of nursing homes, elder abuse forensic centers and other facilities. Finally, the study gave resources 30 points and considered total relevant expenditures. In total, Florida received 48.68 points.
