County prosecutor's office seeks grant to prevent elder abuse

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office recently submitted a grant application to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to enhance elder abuse prevention programming in Macomb County.

The MDHHS expects to award approximately $500,000 between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022 to government organizations, educational organizations and nonprofit organizations that provide services to prevent physical, mental and/or financial abuse of elderly and vulnerable populations.

The prosecutor’s office is requesting the maximum applicant award of $200,000.

With the grant money, the prosecutor plans to assemble a multidisciplinary work group comprised of law enforcement agencies, social workers, elder abuse advocates and medical professionals.

“Abuse has no place in anyone’s life,” Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release issued last week, “especially those that are vulnerable and elderly. We need to make sure that the golden years stay golden.”

The focus will be obtaining the necessary information to train financial institutions, caregivers and relatives of elderly and vulnerable populations to recognize and report instances of abuse.

The prosecutor’s office will also increase public awareness of such abuse through community outreach programs such as speaking to elderly organizations and distributing informational brochures throughout the county.

If approved, the prosecutor’s office will also hire an additional assistant prosecuting attorney and program administrator to run the program.