Justine Bykowski, MA retired from the University of Michigan after a career in gerontology and adult education.  She received Specialist in Aging certificates from the UM Institute of Gerontology and Higher Education Certificate from Harvard University. Her work at the UM and Michigan Medicine began with projects and age-related research involving her with long-term care settings and the larger community.  Her career focused on counseling and teaching older adults and their families on decision making factors regarding their long-term care choices. She received the Anthony V. DeVito II Memorial Award in 2006 for outstanding service, dedication and commitment to excellence in the field of geriatric education in Michigan.

Post-retirement from the UM, a second career followed with the Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.  This culminated in a state-wide educational program to raise awareness about some of the unknown factors that consumers face when choosing senior care residences as well as how to use data sources to find regulations and violations and make complaints. In 2021, she collaborated to survey a sample of Michigan ‘s licensed Home for the Aged (HFA), examining their most serious and frequent violations. A report is available. Building on this work, she currently offers educational programs to the public to discuss HFA’s promise and pitfalls. 

In May 2024, she received the Volunteer of Year Award from AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, a state sponsored organization, for her contributions to support caregivers.