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 June 2026.
If you want this information sent regularly to your email inbox, it’s as easy as signing up using the link below.
Sign Up to Receive Future Elder Abuse Task Force Newsletters
There is a new scam targeting Veterans. The scammers will send you a postcard claiming that you (or your spouse) can get “extra VA benefits.” These include CHAMPVA, TRICARE, and dental coverage. Do not fall for it!
The scammers will:
You can help stop these scams:
If you suspect you have experienced a scam, you can find out more and report it at VSAFE.gov or by calling 1-833-38V-SAFE.
The Elder Abuse Task Force (EATF) will soon be launching a new resource hub. This hub will help provide individuals, families, and caregivers with resources as they explore or avoid guardian and conservatorships. These new pages will make it easier to understand your options and next steps.
Here’s a preview of what you’ll find when the hub goes live:
• A plain‑language glossary
• Frequently asked questions
• Step‑by‑step guides for guardianships and conservatorships
• A printable resource on alternatives to guardianship
• Curated resource links to trusted statewide supports
Watch for the launch — bookmark the EATF homepage for updates.
A protected individual is someone who cannot make decisions for themselves. This is because of age, illness, disability, or another reason. Because of this, they have special rights and protections.
In Michigan, these rights and protections are outlined in the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC). Two key roles in EPIC are conservators and guardians.
The court chooses a conservator to manage the finances and property of a protected individual.
The court chooses a guardian to care for a protected individual.
According to EPIC:
Governor Whitmer signed two bills into law on July 21st, 2026. They make changes to the laws mentioned above.
Both bills took effect immediately.
Public Act 68 was signed into law by Governor Whitmer on July 23rd. It took effect immediately.
PA 68 states that:
Monday, June 15th was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Members of the Adult Services staff in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) took part in a variety of events to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Adult Services staff participated in 5k walks across the state. Wayne County staff also visited two nursing homes while staff in the West Michigan Busines Service Center held a walking challenge from May 15 to June 15. In that time, they walked over 8 million steps, totaling over 4 thousand miles.
In case you missed it, in August 2025, we shared new Power of Attorney forms.
Since they became available, they have been downloaded over 27,000 times.
“Power of attorney laws put crucial protections in place, but those safeguards only work if POA forms are accessible to those who need them,” said Attorney General Nessel. “It is great to see tens of thousands of downloads of these forms after the first year, and I hope this form is useful for our Michigan families for many years to come.”
These easy-to-use online forms were prepared by Cooley Law School’s Kimble Center for Legal Drafting. To access them you can:
If you cannot make medical or financial decisions for yourself, you can choose a trusted person to make decisions for you. This is called granting power of attorney. These forms allow you to do just that!
Forms created by: The Kimble Center for Legal Drafting Cooley Law School
Attorney General Dana Nessel released a series of videos about common scams and how to protect yourself from them.
These videos cover everything from identity theft to home improvement scams.
The video series is available on the Attorney General's YouTube Channel.
The Elder Abuse Task Force has brochures available in many languages. This brochure includes:
You can access our brochures, in English, American Sign Language, Arabic, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese, under the Publications and Resources section of the Elder Abuse Task Force website.
To obtain physical copies of the brochure, please email our office. Requests should include the language(s) and quantity being requested, as well as where the brochures should be mailed to.
