From The Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a law to create the nation’s first elder abuse registry, WSFA-TV originally reported.
The new statewide database, created by legislation called “Shirley’s Law” after Shirley Holcombe, who survived elder abuse, will include the names of anyone convicted of mistreating senior citizens. Holcombe died in 2018 after becoming a victim of forgery by a caretaker.
Jo Holcombe, Shirley’s daughter, began the campaign to create the database.
Elder abuse is on the rise, according to the state, with 11,122 reports of abuse last year including physical abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
