Government

Lawmakers seek to bolster protection for state’s most vulnerable citizens

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By SHANNAN O’NEIL
Capital News Service
LANSING- Grandma and grandpa will have additional financial protection against exploitation if the House passes current legislation. Approximately 157,000 cases of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable adults have been reported to the Michigan Department of Human Services in the past 10 years. Of those, 95,000 have been or will be fully investigated, said Dave Akerly, director of public relations and marketing in the Department. About 20 bills are pending in the state legislature to better protect vulnerable adults. Sen. Coleman Young II, D-Detroit, introduced one to amend the Social Welfare Act to include exploitation in the definition of abuse of vulnerable adults.