Finances and Legal Resources – Region 7 Area

Region VII Area Agency on Aging provides financial and legal resources to help older adults in east-central Michigan plan ahead, make sound decisions, and protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. For caregivers, these resources offer practical guidance on some of the most consequential and confusing aspects of aging.

The agency’s resources focus on advance care planning through health-care advance directives, medical and legal decision-making, and surrogate decision-making for health care in Michigan — helping seniors plan for the possibility of losing decision-making capacity. It also addresses long-term-care payment options, noting that nursing homes average roughly $65,000 to $72,000 a year and in-home care about $25 an hour, so families can plan realistically. A strong emphasis is placed on elder-abuse reporting and prevention; the agency points families to Michigan Adult Protective Services Centralized Intake at 1-855-444-3911 and offers Ombudsman fact sheets and a “Guide to Medical & Legal Decisions.”

This resource matters because legal and financial planning is essential yet intimidating, and elder abuse — affecting an estimated 80,000 Michigan elders each year — too often goes unreported. Reliable, regional guidance helps caregivers prepare documents, understand care costs, and recognize and report exploitation. For families in the Region VII service area, the agency is a trusted resource. Reach Region VII at 1-800-858-1637, or contact Michigan Adult Protective Services at 1-855-444-3911 to report suspected abuse.