Attorney General Nessel Releases Latest Elder Abuse Task Force Newsletter

November 20, 2025

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released the latest edition of the Elder Abuse Task Force newsletter, highlighting significant progress in efforts to protect Michigan’s older adults. The issue features resources for residents and an update on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Adult Protective Services program.

“The Elder Abuse Task Force has made significant strides in our efforts to protect Michigan’s older adults, and this newsletter offers a glimpse of what we’ve accomplished this year,” Nessel said. “I am proud of the collaboration and dedication shown by our partners across the state, and I know that they will continue this great work next year and beyond.”

The newsletter includes the Michigan Office of the Auditor General’s recently-released follow-up report (PDF) to its February 2022 audit of the Adult Protective Services program. Covering activities from October 1, 2022, to February 28, 2025, the follow-up review shows that MDHHS has made significant corrections in four audit recommendations: law enforcement reporting, supervisory review, timely investigations, and staff training.

The newsletter also highlights major Elder Abuse Task Force accomplishments in 2025, including:

• Amendments to the Michigan Uniform Securities Act. The change affected those who hold certain positions in the financial sector. They are now mandatory reporters of suspected financial abuse of vulnerable adults.
• Updated Elder Abuse & Task Force (EATF) pages. The webpages define physical, emotional, and financial abuse. They also identify warning signs like unexplained injuries and missing funds.
• Multilingual EATF brochures. Agencies or organizations that have a mission consistent with the EATF may request copies by sending an email with the subject line “EATF brochure request.”
• House passage of Surrogate Consent Statute legislation. House Bills 4418, 4419, and 4734 create a clear process for medical consent. They also protect vulnerable adults and improve patient care. The bills are waiting to be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.

Readers are also reminded that free, fillable Power of Attorney forms are now available for download on the Department of Attorney General’s website. The forms, prepared by the Kimble Center for Legal Drafting at Cooley Law School, make it easier for Michigan residents and their family members to appoint a trusted individual to make important financial and medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.

More than 100,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse. They experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Michigan residents seeking elder abuse resources are encouraged to call 800-24-ABUSE (22873), or 855-444-3911 to report suspected elder abuse.

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Attorney General Nessel Releases Latest Elder Abuse Task Force Newsletter 

AG Nessel Launches Revamped Elder Abuse Task Force Webpage

May 08, 2025

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has unveiled a newly redesigned webpage for the Elder Abuse Task Force. The updated site offers a more accessible and user-friendly resource for individuals seeking information on how to recognize, report, and prevent elder abuse. 

Michigan's Elder Abuse Task Force launched in 2019 and consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors – all working together to combat elder abuse. More than 100 individuals on the Task Force working diligently to accomplish nine initiatives (PDF), including requiring certification and training for professional guardians.  

The redesigned webpage highlights several major achievements, including: 

• The use of the Vulnerable Adult Incident Report (PDF) statewide to investigate abuse or financial exploitation.
• The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (PDF), which requires financial institutions to report financial exploitation.
• Teaching Michigan residents how to spot and stop abuse.
• The Uniform Power of Attorney Act (PDF), which adopts uniform standards for the creation and use of a power of attorney form used by more than 30 other states. 

“The Elder Abuse Task Force does incredible work to protect some of our most vulnerable residents,” Nessel said. “This webpage is just another example of how the Task Force is raising awareness, expanding access to resources, and empowering the public to take action in the fight to end elder abuse.” 

In addition to showcasing the Task Force’s ongoing work, the webpage includes previously issued publications and newsletters, guidance on how to spot signs of elder abuse, an FAQ on guardianship laws, and instructions on how to report suspected abuse. 

More than 100,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse. They experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Michigan residents seeking elder abuse resources are encouraged to call 800-24-ABUSE (22873), or 855-444-3911 to report suspected elder abuse.

Source:
AG Nessel Launches Revamped Elder Abuse Task Force Webpage

AG Nessel Marks 6th Anniversary of Elder Abuse Task Force

March 25, 2025

LANSING – Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is recognizing the sixth anniversary of the Elder Abuse Task Force, applauding its efforts to protect Michigan’s aging population. Since its launch in 2019, the Task Force has united more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to combat elder abuse and reduce barriers affecting seniors. 

“Over the past six years, the Elder Abuse Task Force has played a crucial role in raising public awareness about equipping communities with the tools to identify and prevent elder abuse,” Nessel said. “I am incredibly proud of the Task Force’s work, from successfully advocating for stronger legal protections to publishing best practices for investigating elder abuse allegations and holding abusers accountable. But there is still more work to do. We will continue to push for long-overdue reforms to ensure every Michigander is treated with dignity and respect.”

“It is an honor to lead this team of selfless, dedicated professionals whose sole mission is to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves and fight for those who can’t fight for themselves,” said Scott Teter, Division Chief of the Department of Attorney General Financial Crimes Division and head of the Elder Abuse Task Force. “The resistance from those vested and entrenched in a broken system is regrettable and fails to recognize the common-sense reforms that Michigan’s system has needed for 25 years. By 2030, Michigan is projected to have 2 million residents 65 and up. Reform can’t wait and we won’t stop working.”

The more than 100 individuals on the Task Force are divided into seven committees working diligently to accomplish nine initiatives (PDF), including more wholesale reforms, including requiring certification and training for professional guardians.

Achievements include the adoption of a Vulnerable Adult Incident Report form for investigations by law enforcement across the state, including the implementation of related trainings. The Task Force has trained hundreds of police officers, prosecutors and Adult Protective Services workers. The training videos have been viewed thousands of times. In addition to the vulnerable adult incident report and associated trainings, the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act was passed that ensures mandated reporting for financial institutions on suspected fraud or exploitation. Financial advisors and securities brokers were also added as mandatory reporters in a separate law. The Uniform Power of Attorney Act was passed and became effective July 1, 2024, to make powers of attorney more accessible with a standard form in the statute. Attorney General Dana Nessel recently released a public service announcement explaining the new law.

More than 73,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse. They experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Michigan residents seeking elder abuse resources are encouraged to call 800-24-ABUSE (22873), or 855-444-3911 to report suspected elder abuse.

Source:
AG Nessel Marks 6th Anniversary of Elder Abuse Task Force

Michigan Senate passes bills enhancing protections for vulnerable adults

By Legal Newsline

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has expressed approval for the Michigan Senate's recent passage of Senate Bills 922-925. This legislative package, supported by both the Attorney General and the Department’s Elder Abuse Task Force, aims to enhance protections for vulnerable adults. The bills focus on increasing penalties for abuse and financial exploitation while promoting prevention programs.

“This legislative package is a critical step toward protecting the rights and well-being of our State’s vulnerable adults,” stated Nessel. She emphasized that the legislation addresses longstanding issues impacting elders and their families, aiming to restore dignity to those in need. Nessel commended the Senate for passing this legislation and reiterated her commitment to seeing these reforms reach the Governor’s desk.

The proposed measures include allowing individuals aged 60 or older, who are vulnerable adults or have developmental disabilities, to petition for personal protection orders. They also propose including embezzlement of a vulnerable adult as a predicate offense for racketeering, extending legal protections beyond a victim's death, and enabling counties or regions to form multidisciplinary teams focused on preventing and addressing abuse.

The Elder Abuse Task Force in Michigan was established in 2019 and comprises over 55 organizations from various sectors working together against elder abuse. It involves more than 100 individuals divided into committees tasked with achieving several initiatives, such as requiring certification for professional guardians.

Significant achievements of the Task Force include adopting a Vulnerable Adult Incident Report form used statewide by law enforcement, implementing related training, enacting the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (FEPA) in 2021 mandating reporting by financial institutions on suspected fraud, revising Power of Attorney statutes, and making Securities Broker/Dealers mandatory reporters of suspected financial exploitation.

Earlier this year, the Department supported House Bills 4909-4912 aimed at reforming guardianship statutes in Michigan. It also backs Senate Bill 656 which seeks to limit conservators' investment options with estate property.

More than 100,000 older adults in Michigan suffer from elder abuse involving neglect and exploitation. Residents seeking resources can call specific hotlines provided by state authorities.

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Michigan Senate passes bills enhancing protections for vulnerable adults

Guardianship bills debated in state senate committee

by Mardi Link

Jun. 16—LANSING — During a state senate hearing on legislation to fix state guardianship laws, elected officials recently heard testimony on the civil rights abuses — from cryptocurrency investment schemes to arbitrary judicial decisions — often faced by those caught up in the flawed system.

"We bend over backwards for people that are accused of committing crimes, to make sure their due process rights are protected," Scott Teter, an assistant attorney general and chair of the office's Elder Abuse Task Force, said.

"These people didn't commit a crime — they got old and frail," Teter said.

Teter, division chief of the AG's financial crimes division, recently detailed a package of four bipartisan bills the House passed more than seven months ago, during a Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee hearing.

The bills, if they become law, would require judges to give a reason, on the record, when they appoint a professional guardian over a family member; limit tasks professional guardians could delegate to office staff and require guardian ad litmus — those acting as the "eyes and ears of the court" — to be more detailed in their reports.

Some elder advocates say the changes don't go far enough. Some professional guardians and probate court judges say they go too far. Few can argue that any substantive reform has been a long time coming.

"Broadly speaking, the bills come from one simple truth, which is there's too many vulnerable adults across the state who have been taken advantage of, exploited and abused," said Rep. Graham Filler, R-Clinton County, sponsor of HB-4911.

"This is a very contentious subject and I do believe these bills are in a good place to move forward," said Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, sponsor of HB 4909.

In 1996, a state Supreme Court Task Force began examining how to improve the way probate court judges vet, appoint and oversee record-keeping for guardians and conservators and then, in 1998, issued several recommendations.

In 2007, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed social service advocates and others to a similar task force, which issued its recommendations — chief among them was to adopt those recommendations issued by Michigan's Supreme Court's task force nearly a decade prior.

In 2019, AG Dana Nessel renewed the reform effort, appointing members from dozens of organizations and municipal offices to yet another elder abuse task force, and that group, too, has issued its recommendations.

"Here we are, 25 years later, and we still have not adopted all of the recommendations from that task force — one of which is certification," Teter said.

State statutes give court-appointed guardians power over a person's housing, medical and other personal needs while conservators are tasked with making financial decisions.

Michigan is among several states which do not require certification or licensure for either role, even though each task force has recommended it in some form and a 2021 study found certification and licensure both increase knowledge, professionalism and effectiveness of professional guardians.

A fifth house bill, HB 5047, sponsored by Rep. Betsy Coffia D-Traverse City, addresses certification and, if passed, would create an office of state guardian, but this bill was not discussed at the hearing.

Teter promised further discussions on this issue, while adding that the requirement for professional guardians is not supported by everyone.

Calhoun County Chief Judge Michael Jaconette told the committee such an addition could have a "catastrophic impact" on the ability of courts to find suitable guardians to serve the state's most vulnerable people.

Jaconette told the committee he also had issues with a portion of the bill that addressed guardian ad litems, while Sen. Jim Runstead, R-White Lake, suggested a "blind draw" where judges could not hand-pick who was assigned to which case.

Some courts use a blind draw, testimony stated, other counties do not. It is a county-by-county decision and not required by law.

Jaconette said the Probate Court Judges Association, of which he is president, gave reluctant support to the four bills in their initial form, although they had concerns about subsequent changes and had withdrawn that support.

Some professional guardians have said the actions of a few have cast aspersions on a reputable profession and that the cost of certification or licensure could make it difficult, even impossible, to serve more than just a handful of indigent adults.

Committee Chair Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, invited written remarks be submitted to the committee and a second hearing is scheduled for next week.

Full Article & Source:
Guardianship bills debated in state senate committee

Attorney General's office supports reform bills on guardianship

By Legal Newsline

LANSING – Today, Scott Teter, Division Chief of the Department of Attorney General Financial Crimes Division and head of the Elder Abuse Task Force, testified before the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee in support of House Bills 4909, 4910, 4911, and 4912. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that this bill package is a first step toward implementing reforms to Michigan’s guardianship statutes.

“I’ve seen firsthand how Michigan’s guardianship and conservatorship system has failed vulnerable adults in our state,” Nessel said. “I am glad some improvements are being made, but we can’t stop here. I will continue to push for the long-awaited reforms as recommended by our Elder Abuse Task Force, which will help create a system that truly treats all Michiganders with the dignity, compassion, and autonomy they deserve.”

"A system that ignores the rights of vulnerable adults and dehumanizes them and ignores the concerns of family members doesn’t do justice and must be changed,” Teter said. “There are common-sense reforms in these bills that are long overdue that will help fix a broken system, but we are not done yet and have more work to do.”

Teter’s testimony highlighted specific concerns faced by the Department, the Elder Abuse Task Force, and their partners under the current system. The proposed legislation aims to address these issues by:

- Requiring courts to make findings of fact if a person with priority for appointment, such as a family member, is passed over in favor of a professional guardian;

- Establishing a clear asset and income threshold above which the appointment of a conservator is required;

- Requiring guardian and conservator letters of authority to expire after 15 months;

- Clarifying and expanding the guardian ad litem’s responsibilities;

- Improving protections for wards when professional guardians seek to remove them from their homes;

- Requiring professional guardians to file petitions seeking court authority to move wards;

- Mandating courts appoint guardians ad litem or counsel for wards where appropriate before authorizing moves to new residences;

- Enhancing basic standards for medical reports used in guardianship and conservatorship hearings;

- Refining the process for emergency petitions for guardianship/conservatorship to ensure an actual emergency exists.

In his testimony, Teter also encouraged legislators to adopt additional legislation creating family consent laws and Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) for elder/vulnerable adults. He provided an overview of the guardian certification initiative.

The Department expressed support for Senate Bill 656 which would restrict investment types allowed by conservators managing estate property. This bill requires conservators to invest according to the Michigan prudent investor rule and mandates investments through brokerage firms insured by the United States Securities Protection Corporation. Additionally, it prohibits investments in cryptocurrency.

Michigan's Elder Abuse Task Force was launched in 2019 with more than 55 organizations from public, private, and nonprofit sectors collaborating against elder abuse. The task force comprises over 100 individuals divided into seven committees working on nine initiatives including wholesale reforms like certification and training requirements for professional guardians.

Achievements include adopting a Vulnerable Adult Incident Report form used statewide by law enforcement along with related training sessions. The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act was also passed ensuring mandatory reporting from financial institutions on suspected fraud or exploitation. Another law added financial advisors and securities brokers as mandatory reporters. The Uniform Power of Attorney Act becomes effective July 1, 2024 making powers of attorney more accessible through standardized forms within statute.

More than 73,000 older adults in Michigan suffer from elder abuse involving neglect or exploitation. Residents seeking elder abuse resources can call 800-24-ABUSE (22873) or report suspected abuse at 855-444-3911.

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Attorney General's office supports reform bills on guardianship

Sparks fly in Lansing as probate judges push back on proposed guardianship reforms

By: Heather Catallo

LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Sparks flew during a Senate committee hearing today in Lansing as probate judges pushed back on proposed guardianship reforms. Local families have been demanding changes to Michigan’s laws after 7 Investigator Heather Catallo’s years-long investigation into the state’s guardianship system.

Catallo has been exposing abuses in the system since 2017, and advocates for the elderly have been trying to get new legislation passed since 2021.

On Thursday, the head of Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Elder Abuse Task Force announced that they have had to drop the bill that would have formed an Office of the State Guardian, at least for now.

“They took my mom before I knew it,” said Chandra Drayton during a 2021 interview with Catallo, about her family’s experience with a professional guardian in Detroit.

“It's disgusting. Our elderly people shouldn't be a commodity and shouldn't be able to be trafficked by these people,” said Gretchen Sommer, whose aunt and uncle were separated from family members by a guardian who erected a 6-foot privacy fence around the elderly couples’ home in Macomb County.

Sommer and Drayton are just some of the family members across our community demanding change. And so are the members of the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force as they fight to get four bills passed in Lansing.

“A system that ignores the rights of vulnerable adults and dehumanizes them and ignores the concerns of family members doesn’t do justice and it must be changed,” said Financial Crimes Division Chief Scott Teter during testimony in front of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary & Public Safety. Teter is the head of the Elder Abuse Task Force.

The task force has worked for years to increase protections in Michigan’s guardianship laws for vulnerable adults. If you’re placed under guardianship, you’re declared legally incapacitated and no longer have any rights.

“They determine whether or not you can marry, whether or not you can divorce, whether or not you can live in your own house,” said Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi). Breen is one of the sponsors of the bills.

“The bills come from one simple truth, which is there are too many adults across the state who have been taken advantage of,” said Rep. Graham Filler (R-St. Johns). Filler has sponsored legislation twice, trying to make changes to the guardianship laws.

During Thursday’s testimony, the head of the Elder Abuse Task Force announced they’ve had to drop a bill that would have established an Office of the State Guardian and require certification of professional guardians.

“We will be coming back with it next year. It’s not going anywhere. Certification has to happen in the state of Michigan,” said Teter.

But the bills still provide several protections, including making sure probate judges put their reasons on the court record if they choose a professional guardian over a family member who wants to take care of their own loved one.

“How do you appeal a non-record? The answer is you can’t,” said Teter.

The changes to the law would also expand the responsibilities of someone called a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). The GAL is supposed to inform a potential ward of their rights. That’s something that never happened in Rodrick Gordon’s case because his GAL never found an interpreter to communicate with Gordon, who’s Deaf-Blind.

“Do you consider yourself incapacitated,” Catallo asked Gordon in a 2021 interview.

“No! Absolutely not,” said Gordon.

But the bills have powerful opponents. Three different probate judges, including the head of the Michigan Probate Judges Association, testified Thursday that they oppose the bills.

“I think the consequences of the legislation would be to reduce the number of professional guardians available to serve the community,” said Kent County Chief Probate Judge David Murkowski.

“The system is not supposed to be designed to protect the interests of judges, lawyers, and guardians. It’s supposed to serve and protect vulnerable adults,” said Teter.

In a press release, the Attorney General said the bills will also:

• Require the court to make findings of fact if a person with priority for appointment, such as a family member, is passed over in favor of a professional guardian;
• Establish a clear asset and income threshold above which the appointment of a conservator is required;
• Require guardian and conservator letters of authority to expire after 15 months;
• Clarify and expand the guardian ad litem’s responsibilities;
• Improve protections for wards when professional guardians seek to remove them from their homes;
• Require professional guardians to file petitions seeking court authority to move wards;
• Require courts to appoint guardians ad litem or, where appropriate, counsel for wards and to schedule hearings before authorizing moves to new residences;
• Improve basic standards for medical reports that are used in guardianship and conservatorship hearings;
• Refine the process for emergency petitions for guardianship/ conservatorship to ensure an actual emergency exists; and more.

There will be another hearing Thursday, June 20, 2024. Family members who lost loved ones to professional guardians plan to testify at that hearing.

Full Article & Source:
Sparks fly in Lansing as probate judges push back on proposed guardianship reforms

Elder abuse task force reviewing proposed bills

By Justin Strawser

Members of an elder abuse task force are reviewing the language and changes of a proposed bill that would place elder abusers on lists like sexual offenders are placed on lists.

State Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-27, has been working with the task force to review Senate Bill 885, which will provide a statewide registry of perpetrators of abuse in facilities, and Senate Bill 261, which would remove the statute of limitations for crimes committed against a nonverbal care-dependent person.

“We wanted an opportunity to tweak the bill and make it better,” Culver said. “We wanted to discuss the impacts and the consequences that we may not have intended, and then get it back to the task force for review. We will recirculate it for co-sponsorship and then reintroduce it.”

The task consists of Culver, Union County District Attorney Brian Kerstetter; Buffalo Valley Regional Police Patrolman Gary V. Heckman; attorney Erica C. Wilson, of Murray, Stone & Wilson PLLC, in West Conshohocken; advocate Kim Rigel and Lynn Fiedler, the daughter of elder abuse victim Alice Longenberger.

Culver said there may not be a need for committee hearings or testimony.

“We’re in that conversation now,” she said. “We may not need it. We’re working with some other members (of the Pennsylvania General Assembly) now until we get to where we need to be. We really want this to be a comprehensive bill that cleans the language up so that law enforcement has the tools necessary to make arrests and the district attorney offices have the tools necessary to prosecute.”

The intention is to call it Alice’s Law in honor of Fiedler’s mother. Longenberger was one of 17 older individuals at Heritage Springs Memory Care in Lewisburg allegedly targeted by two young employees. The employees are accused of taking numerous nude and demeaning photographs and videos of residents between December 2022 and April 2023 at Heritage Springs Memory Care, 327 Farley Circle, Lewisburg.

“Families take this kind of care seriously, but they can still be taken advantage of and face exploitation and abuse,” Culver said. “We need to make sure the changes are the same across the board. I look at this as the first bill of many. Once we get this through, our plan is to look at other ways to strengthen the laws that protect our senior citizens. We’re not going to stop until we feel our seniors are adequately protected.”

Senate bills

Senate Bill 885 and Senate Bill 261 were originally introduced in 2023 by state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33. SB 885 proposed an amendment to the act of Nov. 6, 1987, known as the Older Adults Protective Services Act, that would provide for a statewide registry of perpetrators of abuse in facilities. SB 261 would amend Title 42 to add serious crimes committed against a nonverbal care-dependent person to the other existing seven offenses in which a prosecution can be commenced at any time.

“We’re moving at really good pace,” Fiedler said. “We have such a dedicated task force. They show up for meetings and they come highly prepared. Everyone is invested because they realize the importance of this. There’s a lack of protection for this population.”

Fiedler said she is confident that these first two bills will be passed. It’s also the first of more to come, she said.

“We are part of a very big percentage of an aging society,” she said. “We need to make changes, we need revisions to current bills and we need new bills to better protect our older population.”

Employees charged

Madison Laine Cox, 19, of Pinchtown Road, Montgomery, and an unidentified then-17-year-old male resident who turned 18 in August, allegedly posed with patients in the shower or on the toilet, took pictures of patients who had defecated themselves or had fallen to the ground and took videos of themselves demeaning or harassing individuals, according to court documents filed by Buffalo Valley Regional Police.

They allegedly sent those records to each other, shared them on the phone app Snapchat, and showed them to classmates at a school, police said.

The victims range in age from 69 to 100 years old. The majority of people residing at Heritage Springs Memory Care in Lewisburg are in various stages of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, which limits or severely impedes their cognitive abilities, police said.

In November, the unidentified male was adjudicated in Union County Court on 17 of the 34 counts and his disposition was transferred to his home county in Lycoming County. Adjudication for a juvenile is the functional equivalent of being found guilty in an adult criminal procedure. A disposition hearing in juvenile court is akin to a sentencing hearing in adult court.

The juvenile was sentenced on April 11 in front of Lycoming County Judge Ryan M. Tira, but the judge would not release the sentencing results for the defendant. Due to being charged as a minor, the court proceedings are not open to the public and The Daily Item does not print the names of juvenile defendants unless charged as an adult.

Cox in February pleaded guilty to 12 misdemeanors: one count of criminal conspiracy to commit abuse of a care-dependent person and 11 counts of abuse of a care-dependent person. Union County Judge Michael Piecuch last week rejected the plea deal, which places Cox’s case back on the pre-trial list where the commonwealth can either take the matter to trial or negotiate another plea deal with the defense.

Cox is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. today in front of Union County Judge Michael Piecuch. Cox pleaded guilty in February to 12 misdemeanors: one count of criminal conspiracy to commit abuse of a care-dependent person and 11 counts of abuse of a care-dependent person.

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Elder abuse task force reviewing proposed bills

UNGUARDED: 'Everyone passes the buck'

by Mardi Link

Sep. 23—HARBOR SPRINGS — Coney dogs were on the lunch menu recently at Hillside Apartments and, before fixing his plate, resident George Pappas stood in the center of the dining room, addressing his neighbors.

"I'm Clark Kent!" Pappas said with a soft chuckle, "which is why I'm still here."

The Record-Eagle, since November 2020, has chronicled Pappas' legal and financial struggles, after a court-appointed conservator went on a spending spree with his savings, and later pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a vulnerable adult.

Pappas, 97, is a World War II veteran, a retired railroad worker and a widower, and those who know him describe him as kind-hearted and gracious — not unlike Superman's mild-mannered alter ego.

In 2021, an Emmet County judge sentenced the conservator, Elise Page, to several months in jail, two years' probation and about $17,000 in court fees and restitution.

Page paid her court fees and was released from probation, but Pappas is still owed more than $10,000, court records show.

Pappas received $2,500 from a state victim's rights fund, and $900 in several payments from Page administered by the county's probation department.

About $14,000 of the restitution remains unpaid. Pappas says he has lost faith in the courts to collect and his friends say, because of that, Pappas' moment of levity in the dining room Friday has become increasingly rare.

"He's tore up. This is not right. Everyone knows it's not right — but no one will do anything about it," said Matt Bush, services coordinator at the senior apartment complex where Pappas lives.

With Bush's help, Pappas has advocated on his own behalf to the Emmet County courts, the county's probation department, the Emmet County prosecutor, the Michigan Attorney General's office, the AG's Elder Abuse Task Force, the Veteran's Administration and local, state and national elected officials.

"None of them have been able to get my money back," Pappas said. "Everyone passes the buck."

Bush said national elected officials told him the issue was local, while local officials say legislation bars courts from jailing people solely for financial reasons.

Emmet County court officials did not return calls seeking comment Friday, but correspondence from an assistant prosecutor, Mike Schuitema, bears this out.

"I know this isn't a great answer for Mr. Pappas, but the courts are prohibited from putting people in jail simply due to unpaid money and the probation department intends to end her probation, at which time the criminal case will be completely concluded," Schuitema wrote in a July email to Bush.

"The only avenues left will be through private attorneys putting garnishments on her wages or liens on her property," Schuitema said.

Bush said he'd been given fee estimates of $20,000 to $30,000 for Pappas to hire a private attorney; Pappas' net worth in 2020, when he was appointed the conservator, was about $64,000 plus his car.

In June, Pappas and Bush filed an online complaint against Emmet County courts with the Judicial Tenure Commission.

The JTC is an independent state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for recommending discipline of judicial officers by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Commission Executive Director Lynn Helland said Friday the office was bound by strict rules of confidentiality, which prohibited him from commenting.

"I can't even confirm whether or not a complaint has been received," Helland said, adding that a complainant was free to speak publicly about their complaint if they wanted to.

Pappas wanted to.

"I used to have faith in the courts, faith in the system, but no more," Pappas said. "They got their money. The court fees those were all paid first. I'm last."

Pappas does have a written response from the Judicial Tenure Commission, dated June 20, which states they'll look at the information Pappas submitted and determine whether an investigation is warranted.

"If further action is indicated," the response states, "the Commission may authorize a full investigation."

The Commission, however, does not have authority to change a judicial order.

After lunch Friday, Pappas and Bush met privately to go over paperwork. Pappas carried a folder, on the outside of which he'd handwritten a quote from George Washington: "Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light."

Full Article & Source:
UNGUARDED: 'Everyone passes the buck'

See Also:
Unguarded: Michigan’s guardianship system leaves vulnerable exposed

Elder Abuse Task Force releases guide on legal actions against financial exploitation

LANSING, Mich. — A new guide outlining legal actions against those suspected of exploiting the elderly and other vulnerable adults has been released.

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday A Guide to Investigation & Prosecution of Vulnerable Adult Financial Exploitation is available to all police officers and prosecutors in the state of Michigan.

The guide, released by the Elder Abuse Task Force, may be accessed on the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s website, Nessel’s office says.

“As the population of Michigan ages, we expect to see more reports of vulnerable adult financial exploitation made to local law enforcement,” says Nessel. “It is critical that police officers and prosecutors have access to the tools and training they need to thoroughly investigate these cases and to prosecute criminal activity, and I continue to be proud of the work of the Elder Abuse Task Force to help serve as a resource to law enforcement.”

We’re told the guide has since been forwarded to Michigan State Police, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association.

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Elder Abuse Task Force releases guide on legal actions against financial exploitation

Elder Abuse Symposium by North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force

Collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector are helping investigators get results and prosecute elder abuse cases by more sophisticated means. These methods are growing more necessary as scammers become sophisticated and savvy in their approaches to our older generations.

These partnerships were on display Wednesday at the Rome Civic Center as local legislators and law enforcement met with senior citizen advocates for a symposium hosted by the Northwest Georgia Area Agency on Aging. The senior advocacy group communicated with the local population and found transportation for the audience of more than 100 people.

Three Floyd County Police investigators were presented awards for their work in solving elder abuse cases as well as a prosecutor, judge and a civilian bank teller from Synovus. The North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force made the special presentations. Investigators Misty Pledger and Brittany Werner were awarded the Pat King Award of Excellence for their determination in solving a missing person case from Armuchee, which later found that a man assaulted his elderly grandmother and stowed her away in a freezer. Their resilience led police to arrest Robert Tincher III for the murder of his grandmother.

“Not only did they exhibit empathy and caring for an elderly victim, but they also showed amazing investigative knowledge and skill,” stated Jeff Jones, commander of the FCPD investigative division in his letter of nomination for the duo. The Pat King Award of Excellence is named for a nurse who dedicated her professional life as an advocate for senior citizens by rallying support and fighting all forms of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. She died in 2021 but was instrumental in fighting many cases of abuse.

Investigator Amber Lopez also won the Pat King Award of Excellence for her work in helping a 75- year-old woman recover $60,000 from a scammer who instructed her in how to send money by wire transfer. The case was discovered when the victim contacted a friend J. Edward Hulsey Jr, who is also a Tallapoosa Circuit Judge. He notified Natalee Staats from the Rome District Attorney Office and she worked with Investigator Lopez to initiate the criminal case. Hulsey and Staats were also recognized for their work to notify law enforcement..

In addition to the police and legal officials who were recognized, the task force also recognized a bank teller from Synovus, Brandon Trapp, who initially stalled the victim from making a withdrawal because the large withdrawal seemed suspicious. His work to delay the transaction gave time for authorities to stop the wire transfer, which is often impossible. His proactive work resulted in his selection for the Pat King Award.

Georgia Representatives Katie Dempsey and Eddie Lumsden were honored guests and offered remarks to constituents. Director Vic Reynolds, of the GBI, followed up with candid lessons in fraud and scams to the audience. He borrowed examples from his experience as a prosecutor in Cobb County and also as the head of the state’s investigative agency.

 

According to Reynolds, persons who are 65 and older are among the fastest growing demographic in the United States. They represent a group called “silent victims” because they are slow to report crimes of fraud because of embarrassment. This group spends their lives saving for retirement but fall to sophisticated charlatans who prey on their trust and loneliness.

Reynolds said that three in four cases of financial exploitation involve a suspect is found to be someone the victim knows; in 60 percent of those cases it is a family member. Advice from law enforcement for the audience of senior citizens includes:

 Open your own mail. Do not trust a third party to your private papers.

 Always use direct deposit for income. Work to develop a relationship with your local bank and get to know the employees; these are the people who can quickly identify scams.

 Do not send money to anyone you have never met, and you should never spend money to receive award money.

Crimes of elder abuse that police often encounter are physical, financial and institutional. The Floyd County Police Department is here for our senior citizens and is eager to investigate and help them resolve crimes that may occur against them.

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Elder Abuse Symposium by North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force

Elder Abuse Task Force Shares Information with the Public on Signs of Abuse

by Thomas Fournier

The Month of May celebrates older Americans and their contributions to our country and communities. In 2019 Michigan started the state’s first Elder Abuse Task Force in order to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable population. Yesterday a virtual symposium was hosted by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide resources to the public to aid in protecting elderly family and friends. Attorney General Dana Nessel opened the symposium with a short introduction to the problems that face older residents of the state.

“So here in Michigan the numbers are staggering. 73,000 older adults are victims of elder abuse each and every year. And that is completely unacceptable. The Elder Abuse Task Force tackle the challenges faced by older adults at every angle; law enforcement, healthcare, mental health, social services and financial issues. And we an protect and help older adults by providing information about the resources available through the many Michigan organizations who are a part of the Task Force.” – Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General

The Elder Abuse Task Force has over 100 members and 55 plus participating organizations, who are all fighting against elder abuse. The symposium covered a wide variety of topics around signs of physical, emotional and financial abuse. Yesterday’s event was meant for the public, and the full symposium will be posted to the task force’s website in the coming weeks. On June 9^th the Elder Abuse Task Force will hold another symposium directed toward professionals who work with the elderly.

Call 855-444-3911 to report suspected abuse. Below you will find links to the Elder Abuse Task Force’s website, along with information about elder rights, incident report form, and video’s about the task force and a registration link for the June 9th Symposium.

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Elder Abuse Task Force Shares Information with the Public on Signs of Abuse

AG: Elder Abuse Task Force Offers New Video Focused On Residents Rights In Nursing Homes

 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is advising seniors of some of the things they need to know to keep themselves protected from abuse, particularly in nursing homes. Her office has released the following:

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spent part of the week presenting on consumer protection measures for the state’s senior population as the Elder Abuse Task Force (EATF) launches its latest resource focused on the rights of residents living in nursing homes.

The video, Resident Rights in Nursing Homes, is now available on the Department’s YouTube page.

Its purpose is to make the public aware of the general rights each nursing home resident has and must be afforded, as well as steps to take in the event a resident’s rights have been violated.

“This video is an invaluable resource for anyone with a loved one living in a nursing home,” Nessel said. “I applaud EATF’s ongoing work to raise awareness and advocate for our elderly population.”

Other EATF resources on YouTube include training modules on how to recognize, report, and prevent adult abuse, neglect and exploitation.

More information on the task force’s work can be found in its latest newsletter, which was released at the beginning of the year.

Also this week, Nessel gave consumer protection presentations to senior groups in Rochester and Woodhaven. She focused on the primary ways bad actors target senior citizens to steal their personal information or money, including information on the following common scams:

Grandparents Scams
IRS Scams
Sweepstakes Scams

“Scams may vary in the details, but they usually contain the same ingredients,” Nessel said. “If it’s an urgent or secret request, contains a personal connection to you somehow or asks for money in an unusual payment type like a gift card, trust your gut and assume whoever is contacting you is trying to take advantage.”

The Department provides a library of resources for consumers to review anytime on a variety of topics.

Your connection to consumer protection is just a click or phone call away. Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or if you have questions call 877-765-8388.

More information on elder abuse prevention is available on EATF’s webpage. Those interested in updates are welcome to subscribe to receive the newsletter.

To view upcoming EATF events – including an overview of the Task Force’s work during a live presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. March 23 hosted by the Tri-County Area Agency on Aging – visit this web page.

 

 

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AG: Elder Abuse Task Force Offers New Video Focused On Residents Rights In Nursing Homes

AG Nessel's Elder Abuse Task Force Releases Jan. 2022 Newsletter

Agency: Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746
Public inquiries: 517-335-7622

January 12, 2022

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released the Elder Abuse Task Force's latest newsletter this morning, which highlights the important work that continues to protect our elderly. 

The three-page update is now available on the Department of Attorney General's website. 

"The continued work of the Elder Abuse Task Force is bettering the lives of seniors across the state," Nessel said. "I'm proud of what this group has accomplished thus far and know their steadfast focus will lead to additional protections for our most vulnerable." 

Michigan's Elder Abuse Task Force launched in 2019 and consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sections - all working together to combat elder abuse. 

Since the last newsletter was issued in July, the group has focused on accomplishing the Task Force's Second Set of Initiatives. 

The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (FEPA) took effect Sept. 26. Its passage last year was part of the Task Force's First Set of Initiatives, while providing comprehensive training to implement the Act is part of the second set. 

The Act requires financial institutions to report suspected or detected covered financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to adult protective services or law enforcement.  FEPA also requires financial institutions to implement training for employees to recognize common types and signs of financial exploitation.  

Groups interested in attending a FEPA presentation are asked to email with the following information: 

• subject line that states "FEPA Presentation Request"; 
• a brief description of the professional background of potential attendees; 
• the number of people likely to attend; 
• potential dates and times that will work well for the group (flexibility is encouraged); and 
• the format of the presentation (virtual presentations are recommended). 

If the group is below 50 attendees, the Department of Attorney General asks, to preserve time and resources, that the interested group allow another group to join their event upon request. 

Eligible groups include but are not limited to elder abuse coalitions, area agencies on aging, law enforcement, and financial institution professionals. 

The latest newsletter also provides an update on a bipartisan package of bills introduced in June. The legislation would implement fundamental reforms impacting guardians and conservators-individuals appointed by probate courts to act in the best interests of vulnerable individuals. It is now up to the legislature to move the bills forward. 

A recent criminal case of interest is People v. Haynes, decided August 12, 2021 (docket no. 350125). Gary Haynes' conviction came after he stole over $300,000 from a widow in her 90's while serving as her financial advisor. One of Haynes' arguments on appeal was that there was insufficient evidence that the victim was a vulnerable adult, arguing, in part, because she was mentally capable of handling her own affairs. In affirming the defendant's conviction, the Court of Appeals found that there was strong evidence by which a jury could find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the victim was a vulnerable adult because she walked with a cane, needed help buying groceries, getting to appointments, doing chores around the house, and needed help paying her bills online because she was not familiar with computers. 

The case signifies why it is critical to continue to provide training to police and prosecutors on how to investigate and prosecute those who financially exploit vulnerable adults. 

More information is available on the Task Force's webpage. Those interested in updates are welcome to subscribe to receive the newsletter.   

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AG Nessel's Elder Abuse Task Force Releases Jan. 2022 Newsletter

District Attorney General Clark addresses Elder Abuse Task Force on legislative reforms

Attorney General Dave Clark of the 7th Judicial District and 31st Judicial District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis were in attendance at the October Elder Abuse Task Force meeting to discuss matters related to legislative reforms, according to a news release.

Gen. Clark was a guest speaker at the meeting and addressed the topic of financial exploitation of the elderly from a prosecutorial perspective.

“We are just beginning to scratch the surface on this issue, but the taskforce is taking the right steps to be able to appropriately identify and respond to these types of issues,” Gen. Clark said. “We need to increase the public’s awareness on the ease of reporting this issue and the requirement to report this issue, and that there is a remedy once it is reported.”

Zavogiannis was voted by her fellow district attorneys to serve on the Elder Abuse Task Force, which focuses on the matter of financial exploitation and works to provide a report to the governor and General Assembly on the impact of financial exploitation and legislative solutions to the issue. More recently, she was elected by the task force members to serve as president, according to a release.

“Our goal, first and foremost, is to protect our state’s elderly population and to make sure they have access to resources and support should they feel taken advantage of or unsafe,” Zavogiannis said. “A key element to this is response time. Creating a faster and more efficient way for authorities to be alerted to a situation can allow for more time to ensure the appropriate courses of action are being taken.”

More information about the District Attorneys’ efforts to combat elder abuse can be found at https://www.tndagc.org/programs/elder-abuse/.

About TNDAGC

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference was created by the General Assembly in 1961 to provide for a more prompt and efficient administration of justice in the courts of the state. It is composed of the elected District Attorneys General from the state’s 31 judicial districts. www.tndagc.org

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District Attorney General Clark addresses Elder Abuse Task Force on legislative reforms

AG Nessel testifies in Lansing, challenging state's guardianship laws: 'We should be ashamed...'

The Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel testified Tuesday in front of a committee in Lansing telling legislators we should be ashamed of how we treat the elderly in our state.

 

By: Heather Catallo

 

LANSING (WXYZ) — The Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel testified Tuesday in front of a committee in Lansing telling legislators we should be ashamed of how we treat the elderly in our state.

 

Members of the Elder Abuse Task Force are trying to get the laws changed to improve Michigan’s flawed guardianship system, which the 7 Investigators have been reporting on for years.

“We should be ashamed of how we treat the elderly in this state.”

“We should be ashamed of how we treat the elderly in this state,” said Nessel during her testimony in front of the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. The attorney general said adult guardianship reforms are not just a good idea – they’re a moral imperative.

“We must remember that guardianship and conservatorships can and do ruin lives,” Nessel added. “Even prisoners, convicted murderers retain more rights than someone under a guardianship.”

The 7 Investigators have been exposing problems in the state’s guardianship system for four years.

Nessel even cited the WXYZ story about Marcie Mitchell’s parents, who were separated from their loved ones by a professional guardian back in 2019.

“The legislation before you today addresses the problems we saw in this case,” Nessel said.

When you’re declared mentally incapacitated by the probate courts and placed under guardianship, you can no longer make your own medical, financial, or legal decisions.

“We do not serve to denigrate those who do the sometimes thankless job of serving as guardians. But we do want a more transparent guardianship system here in Michigan,” said Rep. Graham Filler (R-Dewitt), who is sponsoring some of the bills.

New legislation created by the attorney general’s Elder Abuse Task Force will make it harder for professional guardians to isolate vulnerable adults or cash in on their estates.

“Sometimes we see guardians who misuse resident funds or who won’t provide residents with the most basic things, like underwear or consent for medical treatment,” said State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Salli Pung about people under guardianship in nursing homes and long term care facilities.

The four new bills would change several things, including giving judges more rules to follow to make sure family members get to serve as a guardian, instead of a stranger. The bills would also require more medical documentation before declaring someone incapacitated.

“Under this bill, a court may dismiss a proceeding if it cannot be shown by clear and convincing evidence that the individual is an incapacitated individual,” said Kyra Harris Bolden (D-Southfield), who is also sponsoring some of the legislation.

“They just improve transparency by making everyone knows what the rules are to be determined whether someone is unsuitable to serve,” said Christopher Smith from the State Bar Elder Law & Disability Rights Section.

The Michigan Probate Judges Association is not thrilled with all of the changes, but their president-elect testified that they’re working with the task force to keep tweaking the legislation.

“There are, however, some provisions that we see as problematic to the court process,” said Judge John Tomlinson.

Testimony for the bills was limited by time on Tuesday, but committee members say they will continue to hold hearings and work on these changes to the law over the summer.

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AG Nessel testifies in Lansing, challenging state's guardianship laws: 'We should be ashamed...'

Commentary: Isolation of the elderly by manipulative family members must be recognized as a form of elder abuse

(Stephane De Sakutin/Getty-AFP)

By Sandy Baksys

The nation’s ongoing COVID-19 crisis brings a distressing poignancy to the problem of elder abuse. Elders everywhere sadly find themselves in long-term protective isolation from their own families. For those in congregate settings such as nursing homes, both the risk of the coronavirus and the experience of isolation are especially acute.

Yet even in normal times, tens of thousands of elders across our nation are traumatically isolated from their closest family members from the day they lose independence until the day they die.

Such isolation is carried out both in congregate facilities and in private homes, sometimes at the direction of a “rogue” family member who wants to seize power over the elder and his or her assets. It is rank exploitation of our elders in their weakness and old age, no matter who commits it.

The abusers in these situations steal a lot more than power or money when they isolate our aged loved ones. They steal the final chapters of close and lifelong relationships — our last and only chances to be together. 

Tragically, when elder isolation occurs within a family, it can pit some members of the family against others, making it difficult for the elder justice system to distinguish abusers from victims and stop the abuse. 

Why is elder abuse within families the third rail of elder protection in Illinois, even though it constitutes 76% of all elder abuse cases logged by the Illinois Department on Aging’s Adult Protective Services? 

The problem is that here and in so many other states, the law largely doesn’t “see” abusive elder isolation within families. It sees in-family financial abuse, and mainly responds to that by probating wills and estates after an elder has died. 

Traumatic and costly guardianship proceedings likewise put elders’ mental capacity on trial while putting obvious evidence of elder isolation and manipulation on the back burner. But what if all of the legal firepower that today gets channeled into stripping elders of their legal agency and making them wards of the court were channeled into combating elder abuse instead?

Even Adult Protective Services, which handles some 18,000 cases annually, puts the burden on elders. In order for caseworkers to take any action, the dependent elder must speak up against the very person who has them isolated. This helps explain why only 40% of the elder abuse reports APS receives are confirmed, let alone remedied in any way. 

Law enforcement, for its part, depends on APS to refer cases — and on abused elders or their family members to cooperate in cases that could result in sending another family member to jail. What most family members really want is not to send anyone to jail, but simply for the abusive behavior to stop. 

For all these reasons and more, Illinois’ Elder Abuse Task Force, appointed last summer by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and co-chaired by Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, must put elder isolation at the top of its agenda. 

This agenda must be driven by the fact that elders only need be functionally dependent — not mentally incompetent — in order to be vulnerable to traumatic isolation and manipulation by a family member who betrays their trust. The system must stop insisting on evidence of severe suffering or death before it will act. And it must stop pursuing guardianship as its principal approach to elder abuse.

Right now, even before the Elder Abuse Task Force delivers its recommendations to the governor, every Illinois adult deserves to know we will have the right to the same close family relationships after we lose independence that we enjoyed before losing it. Elder isolation is elder abuse.

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Commentary: Isolation of the elderly by manipulative family members must be recognized as a form of elder abuse

Trained observers will watch probate cases involving elders

By KYLE DAVIDSON

LANSING — Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force may begin working with law students in a developing effort to ensure fair treatment for elders in probate court.

The task force’s main goal is to tackle less-recognized issues including physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation and neglect of elders. Attorney Gen. Dana Nessel established it with support from the state Supreme Court and Legislature. As one of its goals for this year, the task force is looking to create a volunteer program of court watchers to monitor cases.

The program would place volunteers in hearings concerning petitions for guardianship and conservatorship. Such cases determine whether parties are fit to look after an adult ward’s health care and other needs and their capability to handle the ward’s finances.

“Basically, we’re trying to make sure that probate judges are treating everyone fairly and that they’re giving everyone a chance to say their piece in courts,” said Mark Hornbeck, the associate director for communications of AARP Michigan, one of the task force’s member organizations.

Hornbeck said the task force is working on a form that court watchers could use to record their observations about the hearings, which would then be submitted to the attorney general’s office for review to determine if any actions need to be taken.

Rather than asking court watchers to make judgments about what they observed, Hornbeck said the forms would act as a snapshot of courtroom events.

Court watchers would check that all interested parties were given a chance to speak, note if the ward was present or represented by counsel and see if there were any noticeable language barriers that were unaddressed or any other signs of concern.

Potential participants would include law school students and volunteers from AARP and other organizations.

They would be trained, but specifics concerning the training curriculum are still in development.

While the program would be a first for Michigan probate courts, it wouldn’t be the first of its kind in the state.

In 2004, Renee Beeker of Milford founded the National Family Court Watch Project as a way to collect data on problems with family courts.

“There were a lot of complaints, but there didn’t seem to be a whole lot anybody could do,” Beeker said.

The initial program followed court cases in Michigan, California, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, according to the project’s website.

Beeker trained volunteers and created a seven-page instrument for gathering data in the courts. Early volunteers were paraprofessionals with no prior experience in family courts, and it later expanded through work with university intern programs.

Despite that project’s success, Beeker said the biggest challenges with continuing volunteer court watch programs are maintaining volunteers and funding.

“This is a huge job — there’s nothing little about this work. Anybody who is trying to put together a program finds out that there’s more to it than meets the eye,” she said.

Screening volunteers is another concern for court watcher programs.

AARP’s Hornbeck said, “We don’t want people with an ax to grind sitting there, keeping tabs on judges that they may have a case in front of or have some past decision that they’re angry about. We’re not interested in getting those folks in the court watchers program, so there will be some vetting involved.”

Beeker’s program took similar precautions and also asked student volunteers to write a first-impression paper about family courts to determine which applicants may hold a bias.

Despite similarities between the two programs, Beeker expressed concerns about the lack of involvement of everyday people with personal experience in these matters.

“Those involved who are professionals have their view from their professional standpoint, but they haven’t lived it necessarily,” she said.

The COVID-19 epidemic has placed development of the probate court watchers program on hold, but the attorney general’s office says the task force plans to issue another newsletter soon detailing the task force’s progress. It will be available on the attorney general’s website under the Elder Abuse Task Force initiative.

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Trained observers will watch probate cases involving elders