News

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative honors the more than 441,000 Michigan veterans. Thank you so much for your military service and for the sacrifices you and your families made. MEJI is proud to serve many of Michigan’s older veterans and veterans with disabilities.

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative wants to thank everyone who is working hard to provide care to family and loved ones. Around 1.7 million Michiganders spend 1.12 billion unpaid hours every year serving as a caregiver (1).

MEJI staff attended the National Consumer Voice Conference held in Arlington, VA from November 3-6. Consumer Voice, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, is the leading national advocacy organization for long-term care residents on issues related to resident rights, adequate staffing, and quality of care and life.

On November 4, Alison Hirschel, MEJI's Program Director and Managing Attorney, testified in support of Senate Bills 585 and 586. Senate Bill 585 offers protection from an all-too-common scenario: sale of a property for what appears to be less than market value.

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative is excited to announce our new Instagram page, @mielderjusticeinitiative as well as our new Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581948240860

Alison Hirschel, CVLAP’s Emily Miller, and Nicole Shannon presented "Who am I to Question a Medical Professional?" and “Creative Ways to Use Durable Powers of Attorney” at the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Annual Conference in Bellevue, WA.

The federal and state government are making changes to the MI Health Link Program, set to take effect January 1, 2026. The state will release more information soon, so keep an eye on this page for more information.

Mike Daeschlein, MEJI Long-Term Care Policy Specialist, represented Protect MI Care at Caring Across Generation's 60-hour vigil honoring the 60th anniversary of Medicaid. Medicaid beneficiaries, family members and advocates, including Mike, read stories from people who rely on Medicaid. The event was held in Washington D.C. and live streamed across the country.

Click the headline above to see our response to federal charges against Villa Healthcare.

On June 30, 2025, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced a settlement with two Villa LLCs and six Villa nursing homes in southeast Michigan to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Villa violated the False Claims Act by systemically failing to provide services to nursing home residents and/or providing materially and grossly substandard services to nursing home residents as well as inadequate staffing and care. Under the terms of the settlement for the fraud case, the Villa defendants agreed to pay $4,500,000 to the United States and the State of Michigan. In addition, the defendants will enter into a five year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

“Despite requirements that nursing homes file state and federal cost reports each year, we still really can’t tell where all that taxpayer money going,” said Alison Hirschel, director and managing attorney of the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, also called MEJI. “We don’t know if it’s being squirreled away in excessive profits or whether it’s actually being used completely appropriately to meet very vulnerable people’s needs.”