News

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative's Nicole Shannon was featured in a Bloomberg news article applauding the American Bar Association's new opinion on guardianship.

Join MEJI's Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center (MAGIC) for three upcoming webinars in our Multidisciplinary Cross-Training Series. The series brings together people from different disciplines and experiences to breakdown silos and foster a shared understanding to improve Michigan's adult guardianship system.

These trainings are designed for a broad audience, including older adults, adults with disabilities, advocates, professionals in medicine, social work, education, law, adult services, mental health, advocacy, and anyone interested in adult guardianship.

When is guardianship of a long term care facility resident appropriate? Why might guardianship be recommended by the facility or other professionals even if it isn't appropriate and the least restrictive alternative? What is the impact of guardianship on residents' rights?  These and other issues are explored in a new podcast by the national long term care consumer advocacy group, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care, in its Pursuing Quality Long Term Care series.

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative staff members Michael Daeschlein, Yosué González, Matt Nagaj, and Rachel Richards attended the Protect MI Care coalition’s March for Medicaid on July 30th—Medicaid and Medicare’s 61st anniversary.

New laws require court approval before guardians permanently move people from their homes and recent appraisals before courts approve home sales

For many years, the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI) has advocated for reforms of the state’s guardianship and conservatorship systems. MEJI seeks  to both better protect the rights of and empower vulnerable individuals who are at the heart of these probate court proceedings. Since 2019, MEJI staff have worked closely with the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force to develop and advance a comprehensive package of legislation that would address the most urgent concerns in guardianship and conservatorship. Last week, we celebrated the passage by unanimous votes in both the Michigan House and the Michigan Senate of SB 585 and SB 586. These bills will provide crucial protections to individuals with guardians and conservators.

Michigan's Olmstead Coalition Condemns Department of Justice Memo Calling for Institutionalization of Older Adults and People with Disabilities.

On June 1, MEJI Director Alison Hirschel was pleased to join a small group of national advocates for nursing home residents in a meeting with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Representation means listening, accommodating, and advocating for the client’s goals.

Bloomberg Law recently covered changes to ABA Model Rule 1.14, the model ethics rule that addresses how lawyers work with clients who may need support communicating or making decisions.

Michigan has now taken the first steps toward adopting those changes.