Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

What Michigan Elder Justice Initiative does

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI) is a Lansing-based nonprofit legal advocacy and ombudsman organization founded to protect the rights of and empower low-income older adults and adults with disabilities in Michigan. The organization delivers services entirely free of charge to eligible individuals and operates through five distinct program lines: the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (MLTCOP), the MI Community, Home, and Health Ombudsman Program (MICHHO), the Michigan Nursing Home Transparency and Accountability Project (M-TAP), the Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center (MAGIC), and the Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project (MGDP). MEJI's core offerings combine individual advocacy and direct service, policy advocacy and litigation, training and education, and coalition leadership to address elder abuse, inadequate long-term care, restrictive guardianship, and barriers to healthcare and public benefits.

MEJI's go-to-market is direct, state-bounded, and grant- and contract-funded rather than commercial. Two of its programs (MLTCOP and MICHHO) are designated state ombudsman functions that serve more than 100,000 long-term care residents and home- and community-based services enrollees, respectively. The organization earns no revenue from service recipients; its funding base consists of government contracts, foundation grants, and donations. Distribution is via facility-based ombudsman visits, free legal representation, community education, and training programs delivered throughout Michigan, with go-to-national-scale influence through reports such as the 2025 joint publication "Public Funds into Private Pockets" with the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.

MEJI's strategic posture is built around regulatory and legislative influence, not technology. With a five-person staff led by Director Alison Hirschel, the organization maintains leadership roles in the Michigan Olmstead Coalition and the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Task Force, partners with the University of Michigan and Michigan Courts through MAGIC, and successfully drove the passage of guardianship reform bills SB 585 and SB 586 in July 2025 after a multi-year advocacy campaign launched in 2019. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no public API or SDK, and no AI/ML capabilities; its digital infrastructure is limited to a redesigned website launched in September 2024.

Name

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

Legal name

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative

Website

https://meji.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative is a nonprofit legal advocacy and ombudsman organization that provides free individual advocacy, policy advocacy, litigation, and education to protect low-income older adults and adults with disabilities in Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elder Justice Advocacy and Legal Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) / MLTC Managed Care Plans (HLAEAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), Behavioral Health & Cognitive Support Coordination (Dementia, Depression, SUD) (HSABAIAF)

Keywords

• Elder justice advocacy
• Long-term care ombudsman
• Disability rights services
• Guardianship reform
• Legal aid for seniors

Headquarters

HQ city

Ypsilanti

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MEJI protects the rights of and empowers low-income older adults and adults with disabilities through individual advocacy, policy advocacy, litigation, education, and collaboration with local, state, and national partners. The organization operates five core programs: two ombudsman programs (MLTCOP serving long-term care facility residents and MICHHO serving home and community-based services recipients) and three specialized programs (M-TAP for nursing home transparency, MAGIC for guardianship reform, and MGDP for guardianship diversion). All services are provided free of charge to eligible individuals.

Product overview

MEJI offers a portfolio of ombudsman and advocacy programs designed to protect the rights of low-income older adults and adults with disabilities in Michigan. The core offerings include two ombudsman programs (MLTCOP for long-term care facilities and MICHHO for community-based services), complemented by three specialized programs addressing guardianship reform (MAGIC, MGDP) and nursing home accountability (M-TAP). These programs work together through individual advocacy, policy advocacy, litigation, education, and collaboration with local, state, and national partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MLTCOP (Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program): Advocates for residents who live in nursing homes, homes for the aged, and adult foster care homes, working on quality of care, quality of life, and residents' rights issues
• MICHHO (MI Community, Home, & Health Ombudsman Program)
• M-TAP (Michigan Nursing Home Transparency and Accountability Project)
• MAGIC (Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center)
• MGDP (Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project)

Products and services

• Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (MLTCOP) Ombudsman program that advocates for the health, safety, well-being, and rights of more than 100,000 residents in Michigan nursing homes, homes for the aged, and adult foster care homes, addressing quality of care, quality of life, and resident rights issues.
• MI Community, Home, & Health Ombudsman Program (MICHHO) Ombudsman program that serves people enrolled in or applying for services in MI Coordinated Health (formerly MI Health Link until 1/1/2026), MI Choice Waiver Program, Community Transition Services, and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
• Michigan Nursing Home Transparency and Accountability Project (M-TAP) Project that examines how Michigan nursing homes allocate millions of dollars of public funds and whether taxpayer dollars are used appropriately to meet residents' critical needs, working in collaboration with national experts and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.
• Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center (MAGIC) Center that drives innovative approaches to protecting and empowering vulnerable individuals at risk of or under guardianship through key innovations such as providing courts with information to limit guardianships, introducing resources to reform guardian ad litem roles, and cross-training of medical professionals and members of the bar and judiciary.
• Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project (MGDP) Pilot project that empowers older adults and individuals with disabilities by connecting them to community services, public benefits, and legal and other resources that can help them avoid guardianship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully advocated for passage of SB 585 and SB 586, two guardianship reform bills in Michigan

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2025Collaborated on the 'Public Funds into Private Pockets' report examining financial practices of Michigan nursing home chains. Jointly hosted a legislative event in Lansing to release the report examining how nursing homes may hide profits and deprive residents of care.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAGIC (Michigan Advancing Guardianship Innovations Center) partners with University of Michigan geriatricians to establish the Multidisciplinary Cross Training initiative. This initiative fosters shared understanding of decision-making capacity, guardianship standards, and the role of medical documentation in probate court proceedings.
• Michigan CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAGIC is establishing an innovative Guardian ad Litem training initiative in partnership with Michigan courts. This initiative supports consistent, person-centered GAL practices through targeted training, curriculum development, and evaluation strategies.
• Michigan Attorney General's Elder Abuse Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEJI staff have worked closely with the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Task Force since 2019 to develop and advance comprehensive guardianship reform legislation (SB 585 and SB 586). The task force works to bring elder abuse to light and develop legislative proposals, training, and policies.
• Michigan Olmstead CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEJI plays a leadership role in the Olmstead Coalition, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Olmstead Decision. The coalition works to support home and community-based services and the rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Gravity WorksminorOthersWebsite design and development partner responsible for creating MEJI's new website and MLTCOP's new website launched in September 2024. The new websites feature modern design and accessible interfaces.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc Michigan: Michigan nonprofit advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, overlapping with MEJI's guardianship reform and disability advocacy work, particularly MGDP and MAGIC.
• Center for Elder Law & Justice: Nonprofit providing direct legal services, ombudsman, and advocacy for elderly and disabled individuals. Comparable to MEJI in combining free legal representation with ombudsman functions, though geographically focused on Western New York.
• National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: National nonprofit advocating for long-term care residents' rights and quality of care. Directly comparable to MEJI's MLTCOP and M-TAP work, and is already an active MEJI partner on the 'Public Funds into Private Pockets' report.
• Justice in Aging: National nonprofit legal advocacy organization focused on elder economic security, health care access, and aging in community. Comparable to MEJI in combining individual legal services with systemic policy advocacy on behalf of low-income older adults.
• Disability Rights Michigan: Michigan's federally designated protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Operates in the same Michigan legal advocacy and ombudsman-adjacent space as MEJI's MGDP, MAGIC, and disability-focused programs.

Emerging players

• Medicare Rights Center: National nonprofit providing Medicare counseling and policy advocacy. Comparable to MEJI's work on Medicaid/Medicare access issues for low-income older adults and dual-eligible populations served via MICHHO.
• National Guardianship Association: National membership organization setting standards and advocating for guardianship reform. Closely aligned with MEJI's MAGIC and MGDP programs focused on limiting guardianships and promoting least-restrictive alternatives.

Others

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA): Professional association for attorneys specializing in elder law. MEJI's legal and guardianship advocacy work intersects with NAELA's membership, and NAELA provides training and policy positions relevant to MEJI's practice areas.

Broad incumbents

• Michigan Area Agencies on Aging Association: Statewide association representing Michigan's 16 Area Agencies on Aging that coordinate community-based services for older adults. Adjacent to MEJI's MI Choice, PACE, and Community Transition Services ombudsman scope.
• AARP Michigan: State office of a national aging advocacy organization operating in Michigan on long-term care, Medicaid, and caregiver issues. Overlaps with MEJI's policy and educational mission but operates at much broader scale and membership-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-elder-justice-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Michigan Elder Justice Initiative