Serving as House Majority Floor Leader, State Representative Sarah Roberts (St. Clair Shores) leads her colleagues in voting as the House passes the Elder Abuse Protection Plan on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. The legislation aims to strengthen consumer protections for seniors and increase penalties for those who financially exploit them. >> More...
LANSING – House Democrats today took a stand against elder abuse in Michigan by passing the first wave of a package of bills that will strengthen consumer protections for seniors and increase penalties for those who financially exploit them. The Elder Abuse Protection Plan is part of House Democrats' ongoing effort to strengthen Michigan's faltering consumer protection laws. The lawmakers called for the Senate to pass the plan quickly.
"Elder abuse is a far-too common occurrence here in Michigan – one that, unfortunately, is often swept under the rug," said State Representative Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), lead sponsor of the plan. "By passing this plan we're sending a clear message that we will no longer allow the mistreatment of our seniors here in Michigan. The Senate should do the same and act swiftly on this plan."
The plan that began moving today addresses elder abuse by:
- Increasing penalties for cheating or defrauding seniors, including establishing felony charges and banning abusers from inheriting from the estate of their victim.
- Empowering concerned citizens to file criminal complaints to stop and prevent abuse cases in nursing homes and elsewhere.
- Strengthening consumer protections by requiring financial institutions to do more to disclose the rights of seniors and create new safeguards against fraud.
- Creating the "Mozelle Alert" – an alert to notify the public in cases of missing endangered seniors, similar to the Amber Alert. The alert is named in honor of Estella Mozelle Pierce, a senior who died after wandering from her Southwest Detroit home.
"Michigan seniors need better protections," said State Representative Andy Neumann (D-Alpena), Chair of the House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee. "By increasing safeguards and creating stronger penalties, we are ensuring that our seniors will be protected both financially and physically. This plan has received strong support and I urge the Senate to act without delay in putting our seniors' best interests first."
Reports of elder abuse have increased 40 percent since 1998, according to the Michigan Department of Human Services. Michigan's Adult Protective Services received more than 16,300 reports of adult mistreatment in 2008. Based on estimates of how often abuse goes unreported, this suggests that more than 73,000 of Michigan's adults are abused every year, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.
"Our plan not only targets abusive caretakers, but also the crooks and con artists who prey on vulnerable adults as a way to make a quick buck," said State Representative Mike Huckleberry (D-Greenville), a sponsor of the plan. "Our residents have worked and saved their whole lives, and especially in times like these, we need to give them all the protection they deserve. This plan will make a difference in the lives of many of our seniors."
To report a suspected case of elder abuse, residents can call the state's 24-hour toll-free hotline at
(800) 996-6228.