LANSING (WWJ) -- In an effort to protect vulnerable adults in nursing homes who are facing financial exploitation, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched a system for staff to file complaints when they notice the signs.
If any staff members know or have reason to believe that someone is using a nursing home resident's assets or benefits for purposes other than the care, needs and wishes of the resident, a complaint may be filed online.
The complaint system is accessed through the Department’s website.
“The safety and security of nursing home residents is one of my department’s top priorities,” said Nessel. “This portal will provide an avenue for nursing home employees to report suspected embezzlement and financial exploitation. If a facility knows a resident has a stream of income, but their patient account is in the red, it may be a warning sign that someone is siphoning away the patient’s assets. That concern can be reported via this portal directly to our team to evaluate for investigation. We look forward to working collaboratively with the long-term care community to root out and prosecute any suspected abuse.”
The new portal is now live and focuses on the tenth initiative in the Elder Abuse Task Force’s (EATF) second set of initiatives. For follow-up and investigation, nursing home administrators will provide information directly to the Department's Health Care Fraud Division.
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Click EATF to learn more about it.
People can make a complaint regarding nursing home abuse to the Attorney General’s hotline by calling 1-800-24-ABUSE (1-800-242-2873)
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