Nessel files elder abuse case in Saginaw County

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last Thursday announced her Health Care Fraud Division has charged Elizabeth Haines, 62, of Saginaw, with one misdemeanor count of Assault and Battery. This is the eighth defendant charged with elder abuse since the attorney general launched her Elder Abuse Task Force in March.

Haines is a former nursing home aide at Samaritas Senior Living. In April 2018, she allegedly grabbed an elderly, wheelchair-bound resident in a forceful and aggressive manner and pinned the resident’s arms to her wheelchair while ignoring the resident’s requests to stop. Following the incident, the resident had bruises on her arms. In nursing homes, restraining residents is a form of abuse.

“Physical abuse of nursing home residents is never acceptable, period,” said Nessel.  “Most vulnerable residents are completely dependent on their caregivers for a myriad of essential daily tasks and when those caregivers become abusers, my office will step in and hold them accountable. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the health, safety and well-being of all Michigan seniors.”

Haines was arraigned last Thursday by 70th District Court Judge A.T. Frank. The defendant’s bond was set at $7,500 and she was released on her own recognizance.

This case illustrates the importance of the Michigan Elder Abuse Task Force established by Nessel and Supreme Court Justices Richard Bernstein and Megan Cavanagh earlier this year.

The Task Force includes 80 representatives from more than 50 different organizations around the state who are joining forces to increase awareness, dialogue and solutions to help eliminate elder abuse in Michigan.

Nessel, Bernstein and Cavanagh kicked off a statewide 12-stop Elder Abuse Listening Tour in June. As part of the tour, the three statewide leaders will be in the Bay area at the Bangor Charter Township Hall from 10 a.m. to noon and at the Flint City Council Chambers from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 26.

For additional information on the Elder Abuse Task Force, visit Michigan.gov/elderabuse.