LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and law enforcement agencies across the state are working together to stop elder abuse as more.
Nessel and Supreme Court Justice Megan Cavanagh met law enforcement agencies to create the first-ever statewide incident report for vulnerable adult abuse, according to the Attorney General's Office. The report will include online training to follow for every law enforcement agency across the state as part of the Michigan's Elder Abuse Task Force initiatives.
Although the aging population is growing, with more than 2 million seniors expected by 2030 according to the Attorney General's Office, Nessel said the state has never had a standardized investigation report for law enforcement to properly document cases of elder abuse.
Officials say more than 73,000 residents are victims of elder abuse each year, and it is estimated that one in every 10 older adults are likely to become a victim of elder abuse in their lifetime.
“For too long, law enforcement agencies have gone without the proper tools to identify, prosecute and rein in elder abuse crimes in our state,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “Today, together with the top leaders that represent every law enforcement agency, in addition to prosecutors from around the state, we are providing more robust tools to crack down on elder abuse.”
“This new incident reporting form sends a message that when it comes to stopping elder abuse, we are on the same page,” said Michigan Supreme Court Justice Megan K. Cavanagh. “Our first goal is preventing abuse, but just as important, knowing when abuse occurs and what to do are the critical next steps in making sure seniors are protected from further harm and abusers are held accountable.”
The Attorney General's Office said the incident report form outlines steps for responding law enforcement officers to take if there is a suspected physical, emotional or financial abuse to a senior or vulnerable adult.
These steps are:
• Determining whether the victim is a vulnerable adult.
• Identifying if there has been physical harm.
• Documenting physical injuries, possible signs of neglect and/or instances of financial exploitation.
Michigan residents can report any signs or concerns about elder abuse to the Attorney General's Office through the anonymous elder abuse hotline at 800-242-2873 or online by clicking here.
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