LANSING, Mich. (April 16, 2025) — Elder abuse and exploitation is a serious and growing concern and, today, the Michigan Senate voted to better protect seniors across Michigan. Led by Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), this package would enhance protections for vulnerable adults by strengthening penalties for abuse and financial exploitation offenses, while also developing programs to bolster prevention efforts.
“No one should have to worry about being taken advantage of as they age, yet too many Michigan seniors fall victim to abuse and exploitation,” said Sen. Klinefelt. “I’m thankful for my colleagues who joined me in putting politics aside to pass good public policy that strengthens protections, holds criminals accountable, and ensures vulnerable adults have the resources they need to stay safe.”
According to the Michigan Dept. of Attorney General, more than 73,000 older adults in the state are victims of abuse and exploitation. This can lead to serious physical and psychological effects, such as depression, increased hospitalization, and premature death. Elder abuse and exploitation also pose an economic issue, as financial scams and fraud cost older adults over $28 billion each year.
“Financial exploitation doesn’t just rob seniors of their savings — it robs them of their security, independence, and dignity,” said Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). “Too often, bad actors take advantage of vulnerable adults and leave their families without justice. Protecting our seniors means standing up for them at every stage, and this legislation would ensure that even after a victim has passed, those who commit these heinous crimes will still be held accountable.”
To address this growing problem, this package will help the state and local governments better prevent, detect, and prosecute all forms of elder abuse. More specifically, this legislation would:
-
Allow an individual who is 60 years or older, is a vulnerable adult, or has a developmental disability to petition the court to obtain an elder and vulnerable adult personal protection order (Senate Bill 111, Klinefelt).
-
Increase the amount of time prosecutors have — from six years to 10 — to recover property in embezzlement cases where criminals have taken advantage of vulnerable adults (Senate Bill 112, Anthony).
-
Protect vulnerable adults even after death, treating offenses the same as if the exploitation had occurred during the victim’s lifetime (Senate Bill 113, Hertel).
-
Take an all-in approach to preventing, intervening, investigating, and prosecuting abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older and vulnerable adults by bringing together local teams of experts (Senate Bill 114, Irwin).
“It’s important to me that every Michigander feels empowered to seek justice in the face of abuse or exploitation, regardless of their age or background,” said Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “By extending the amount of time to prosecute financial exploitation, we are ensuring survivors have a fair chance to hold perpetrators accountable. This package is a crucial step in protecting some of our most vulnerable and reaffirming our commitment to building a safer, more just state.”
During the committee process, this package garnered support from a broad coalition of stakeholders including the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, Michigan Poverty Law Program, Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project, Michigan Catholic Conference, Michigan Sheriffs Association, Disability Rights Michigan, Michigan State Employee Retirees Association, and more.
“By passing Senate Bill 114, the Michigan Senate is giving local governments more tools to meet the complex needs of vulnerable adults in our communities,” said Sen. Irwin (D-Ann Arbor). “Multidisciplinary teams will help coordinate care and services so that people can get appropriate, individualized support.”
Senate Bills 111-114 now head to the Michigan House for their consideration.