Thank you for your interest in Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force (EATF) – an alliance representing more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors – all working together to reduce barriers facing our aging population.
Please take a few minutes to catch up on what the Task Force has been up to since our last issue in August 2025.
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In October, the Michigan Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released a follow-up (PDF) to its February 2022 audit. The report looked at steps the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has taken since the first review of the Adult Protective Services (APS) program.
The follow-up report, which covered activities from October 1, 2022, to February 28, 2025, showed that MDHHS made significant corrections. These corrections were made to its APS program in the four audit recommendations listed below:
MDHHS reported suspected criminal activity in 97% of the APS complaints reviewed. MDHHS is also working to update the Social Welfare Act. The update will make the rules about reporting clearer.
MDHHS followed the original report’s recommendation that supervisors check every closed APS case. OAG reviewed 100 closed cases. Every case had a supervisor’s review and approval before it was closed.
MDHHS began investigations within 24 hours in 99 of the 100 cases reviewed. The investigation began within 26 hours in the case where response was delayed.
All new Centralized Intake staff received APS training during onboarding. Ninety-eight percent of existing staff completed annual refresher training.
In our August newsletter, we shared that Power of Attorney forms are available on the Michigan Department of Attorney General's website and are free to download.
These user-friendly forms were prepared by the Kimble Center for Legal Drafting at Cooley Law School. The forms make it easier for Michigan residents and their family members to appoint a trusted individual to make important financial and medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.
The forms include:
The Elder Abuse Task Force has been raising awareness about elder abuse for six years. It provides Michiganders with the tools to identify and prevent elder abuse.
Some of the Elder Abuse Task Force’s 2025 accomplishments have been to:
Thank you for being part of a year of progress — here's to continuing the work in 2026!
