Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

06/10/2026

MEJI is hiring!

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative is hiring two full-time Staff Attorneys (both positions can be fully remote or hybrid positions based in our Lansing office), as well as a part-time Long Term Care Ombudsman (must reside in Jackson, Lenawee, or Hillsdale Counties and be able to drive to long term care facilities throughout the counties). Please visit our website for the full listings and instructions to apply: https://meji.org/work-us-0

06/08/2026

One week left! Apply now!

Your voice matters. The Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center (MAGIC) is building a Lived Experience Advisory Group — and we want to hear from people who have been under guardianship, were in the past, or found other ways to make their own decisions.

If that's you, we want applications by June 15, 2026.

What does the MAGIC Lived Experience Advisory Group actually do? Members of the group will:
-Share their experiences with the guardianship system
-Talk about what works and what doesn't
-Make recommendations for improving guardianship in Michigan
-Help shape how their voices are heard in policy and practice

Participants​ who are selected for the group will be compensated with a $25 gift card for their ​time and expertise at each meeting.

Apply by June 15: https://tinyurl.com/5e8c64ha

Questions? Email [email protected], call 517-827-8010, ext. 7, or https://meji.org/news/apply-join-magics-lived-experience-advisory-group-june-15

06/05/2026

MEJI in the news!

Bloomberg Law recently covered changes to ABA Model Rule 1.14, which addresses how lawyers work with clients who may need support communicating or making decisions.

Michigan has taken the first steps toward adopting those changes.

The article includes Nicole Shannon of the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative. It highlights Michigan’s work leading this charge to ensure lawyers communicate with clients in ways that work for them, consider supports and accommodations, and advocate for the client’s stated wishes instead of jumping to guardianship or substituting someone else’s idea of what is “best.”

Read the article: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/aba-state-bars-urging-attorneys-to-pivot-from-guardianships?context=search&index=0

06/05/2026

MEJI Director Alison Hirschel meets with National Advocates for Nursing Home Residents

On June 1, MEJI Director Alison Hirschel was pleased to join a small group of national advocates for nursing home residents in a meeting with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The advocates discussed the crisis of understaffing in nursing homes, facilities' excessive use of anti-psychotic drugs, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in nursing home finances.

Alison was able to illustrate the advocates' concerns by sharing the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's experiences on the front lines of nursing home advocacy in Michigan.

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month!

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative celebrates the approximately 373,000 Michiganders who identify as LGBTQ+ (1). MEJI is proud to work with q***r older adults and people with disabilities!

1.
https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2026/06/01/june-2026-pride-month

06/01/2026

Your voice matters. The Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center (MAGIC) is building a Lived Experience Advisory Group — and we want to hear from people who have been under guardianship, were in the past, or found other ways to make their own decisions.

If that's you, we want applications by June 15, 2026.

What does the MAGIC Lived Experience Advisory Group actually do? Members of the group will:
-Share their experiences with the guardianship system
-Talk about what works and what doesn't
-Make recommendations for improving guardianship in Michigan
-Help shape how their voices are heard in policy and practice

Participants​ who are selected for the group will be compensated with a $25 gift card for their ​time and expertise at each meeting.

Apply by June 15: https://tinyurl.com/5e8c64ha

Questions? Email [email protected], call 517-827-8010, ext. 7, or https://meji.org/news/apply-join-magics-lived-experience-advisory-group-june-15

05/26/2026

Did you miss our May 5 webinar? The recording is now available.
Kahli Zietlow, MD, and Leslie Dubin, LMSW, ACSW, of the University of Michigan presented on how medical professionals evaluate decision-making capacity—and what that means for legal practice.

The session covers:
-How capacity is assessed across medicine, social work, and law
-Why capacity is domain-specific—a person may have capacity for some decisions but not others
-Key limitations of medical assessments, including that they reflect a specific point in time and context
-How attorneys and other professionals can better interpret and apply clinical opinions on capacity in legal settings

This webinar is part of the MAGIC Multidisciplinary Cross Training Series.

Watch the recording here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ar5x_cYT9-wLhFnbbezwI8vcAvaSm1vd8ozEsvAIbssy-xe0SlLOX3M8AjPBwbz4.z4MKFhgqhFoDIEMo?startTime=1777996933000
Passcode: ?&uEV8MH

05/22/2026

Apply to be a Care Fellow by 5/27!

Caring Across Generations’ Care Fellowship brings together caregivers and care recipients in a 4-month leadership journey of shared learning and community building. Fellows contribute their lived experience and wisdom while gaining new tools to shape the future of care.

Together, we’re creating spaces where care champions can explore their unique paths to strengthen our movement - whether through creative expression, community organizing, policy change, or other forms of impact that speak to their vision.

Please use this link for more information and to apply: https://caringacross.bamboohr.com/careers/50

05/15/2026

Senior Action Week!

Please click the link below to learn more about Senior Action Week, Older Michiganians Day, sign the support letter, and see what you can do to advocate for older adults in Michigan!

https://4ami.org/event/older-michiganians-day-senior-action-week