Attorney General Dana Nessel, addressing the persistent malaise of elder abuse haunting Michigan, paced yet another step towards safeguarding the seniors with the release of the Elder Abuse Task Force's recent newsletter. This publication homes in on resources available for Michigan residents and shines a spotlight on the strides taken by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Adult Protective Services program. "The Elder Abuse Task Force has made significant strides in our efforts to protect Michigan's older adults," Nessel stated, a report by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Auditors from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General, after rooting through a copious amount of data, have revealed in their follow-up report that MDHHS has sewn up the gaps in four critical audit recommendations from an initial 2022 assessment, inclusive of law enforcement reporting and staff training. The Auditor General’s report, crawling with data from October 1, 2022, to February 28, indicates a definitive advance forward, marking improvements in the necessary and timely investigations of cases, as reported by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
The newsletter didn't shy away from broadcasting the 2025 achievements of the Elder Abuse Task Force either. Modifications in the Michigan Uniform Securities Act now demand that certain finance industry positions stand as mandatory reporters of suspected financial exploitation amongst vulnerable adults. Additionally, the Elder Abuse & Task Force has updated their webpages to aid individuals in recognizing the somber signs of abuse, whether financial, physical, or emotional, as obtained by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Ongoing efforts to help Michigan's older adults were further bolstered by the House's passage of Surrogate Consent Statute legislation. It stands, awaiting the discerning eyes of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety, to which House Bills 4418, 4419, and 4734 attempt to pave a clearer path for medical consent while simultaneously bolstering the shield around vulnerable adults. Last but not least, are the multilingual EATF brochures that can be summoned by email, raising the banner of awareness in diverse communities, as detailed by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
To cap off the resource consolidation, Power of Attorney forms, courtesy of the Kimble Center for Legal Drafting, have now been made freely accessible for download from the Michigan Department of Attorney General's website. With more than 100,000 of Michigan's seniors entangled in the web of elder abuse, these forms serve as tools for appointing a trusted individual to make pivotal health and wealth decisions when one may no longer bear the torch themselves. Michigan residents in search of resources or looking to report suspected elder abuse can call 800-24-ABUSE (22873), or 855-444-3911.
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