© 2024 WEKU
NPR for Central and Eastern Kentucky
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Thanks for supporting WEKU! The new WEKU pottery mug is still available. Support WEKU at $8.89 per month and get the WEKU pottery mug while supplies last.

Kentucky Has High Rates of Elder Abuse

Shuttershock

A new study of elder abuse protections ranks Kentucky the fourth worst in the nation.

The study by WalletHub looked at a few key areas--prevalence of elder abuse, resources, and protection. Kentucky ranks 47th in the quality of its nursing homes. The commonwealth also ranks in the bottom for the most gross neglect and exploitation complaints.

Tennessee is ranked 15th in elder abuse protection, while Indiana is 27th.

The U.S. Census Bureau expects the population of those ages 65 years and older to nearly double to almost 84 million by 2050. Elder abuse affects an estimated five million people nationwide, with about 96 percent of those cases going unreported.

Becca Schimmel is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in psychology and she will be graduating in December. She was born in South Carolina but grew up in Lexington, Ky. She is a UK basketball fan. She enjoys swimming, coffee, reading and drinking more coffee. Becca has served as copy editor for the Murray State News and has interned with the Paducah Sun.
WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.
Related Content