News

“Across several states, evictions have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. In California, nursing home eviction notices rose from 195 in 2022 to 273 in 2024. In Michigan, there were 317 nursing home eviction cases in 2024, up from 143 in 2022.
What those figures don’t capture are the countless quiet discharges that happen every day. An example is when a resident’s Medicare-funded rehabilitation ends and a nursing home insists it’s ‘time to go home,’ even though federal law offers broad protections against such forced removals, says Alison Hirschel, program director and managing attorney of the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the legal needs of older adults and adults with disabilities.”

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 5, MEJI was delighted to receive a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to establish a statewide center to address systemic flaws in Michigan's adult guardianship system. The grant will launch the Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovation Center (MAGIC). MAGIC will serve as a hub for education, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring that reforms are embedded in practice.

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.

Sarah Slocum has received the Exceptional Service Award from the ELDRS section of the State Bar.

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.