April 4, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama Creates Registry For Elder Abuse Convictions
Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed the law to create the nation’s first elder abuse registry. The new state database, created by legislation called “Shirley’s Law,” will include the names of anyone convicted of mistreating senior citizens. The law’s namesake Shirley Holcombe died in 2018 after becoming a victim of forgery by a caretaker, and the legislation was the result of Shirley’s daughter Jo Holcombe’s efforts. The law will allow family members to see whether someone being considered for a job involving older adults has ever been convicted of elder abuse. It will also provide information about people who have come under protection orders for elder abuse. There were 11,122 reports of elder abuse in 2021, including physical abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
