Louisiana ranked worst in the nation for senior care

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - A new study from Retirement Living shows that Louisiana is ranked at the bottom in the U.S. in terms of senior care.

The study cites preventable hospitalizations, lower quality of nursing homes, food insecurity and social isolation as key factors.

ULM Gerontology Professor Dr. Anita Sharma says education and access to resources are key to improving the state’s standing.

“The more we educate our community, our seniors, and our professionals, the better quality of life we will create for our seniors,” Sharma said. “A lot of our problems are rising from the fact that people are not informed enough about health issues, about available resources, about how to reach out to those resources. So we have the resources, people just don’t know how to reach out to them.”

Since the pandemic, social isolation has grown among seniors.

Director of the Ouachita Council on Aging Loretta Hudson believes that the council is vital for seniors to stay active and have access to transportation.

“Socialization is the key,” Hudson said. “Meeting new friends, developing friendships, and long-lasting relationships, that is something that we advocate for and the seniors love it! They love connecting with one another. It is essential for mental health as well as physical health. Socialization, in itself, is key to isolation and seniors being by themselves or not being able to engage and act with other people.”