What are the challenges of a steadily growing elderly inmate population?

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What are the challenges of a steadily growing elderly inmatepopulation?

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As the aging American population grows so does the aging population within the penal system Historically correctional institutions were designed for young ablebodied inmates Today correctional institutions are finding the need to make accommodations for the unique physical and cognitive needs of those over age 55 Due to lack of health care and illicit behaviors individuals who are incarcerated typically experience negative outcomes of aging earlier than those in the general population With increased sentence lengths and a decline in physical and cognitive abilities correctional facilities are finding it necessary to identify and create modifications Some of the challenges correctional institutions are facing include structural changes to buildings programs to aid with physical and cognitive decline assistance with activities of daily living as well as palliative and hospice care services This literature review discusses the challenges and adaptations needed as inmates age in place as well as outlines some successful trainings to educate corrections employees on the unique needs of aging inmates Introduction Inmates in the United States face many physical and cognitive challenges as they age in prison Due to the dramatic increase in the number of older inmates in correctional facilities aging in place for this population is a growing concern The purpose of this review is to highlight the challenges that aging presents for older inmates and correctional institutions as well as the programs and adaptations that have been created to respond to these increased needs The National Commission on Correctional Care defines older inmates to be 50 or 55 years of age Williams Goodwin Baillargeon Ahalt Walter 2012 To be consistent with reporting by the Bureau of Justice Statistics this review will define older inmate as a woman or man 55 years of age or older and serving time within a correctional institution Carson Sabol 2016 As the general population in the United States ages the aging inmate population is also expected to rise In 2003 there were approximately 36 million individuals age 65 or older in the United States Abner 2006 According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Related Statistics that number grew to 46 million people age 65 and older living in the United States in 2016 According to Carson and Sabol 2016 of the Bureau of Justice Statistics the number of inmates in the United States age 55 and older has increased from 26300 to 131500 over the past twenty years with a median age increase from 30 to 36 years Inmates age 55 and older are the fastest growing population in correctional facilities in part due to increasingly stringent laws Abner 2006 Carson Sabol 2016 Mandatory minimum and longer sentences limitations on parole and mandatory life sentences for third violent or other serious felony convictions have led to a significant increase in the inmate population in the United States Loeb AbuDagga 2006 Nowotny Cepeda JamesHawkins Boardman 2016 According to Carson and Sabol 2016 there has been an increase of 54 percent in arrests for drug offenses between 2003 and 2012 for individuals age 55 and older whereas arrests for individuals younger than 54 years of age have decreased by 10 percent The older inmate population on average is serving longer sentences than younger inmates due to the type of crimes committed Specifically there is a greater percentage of violent offenders in the 55 and older inmate population and they have a higher mean sentence length than those in other age categories In 2013 inmates aged 55 or older had a mean sentence length of 82 months compared to 69 months for inmates aged 18 to 39 and 71 months for inmates aged 40 to 54 Carson Sabol 2016 Inmates serving longer sentences for more violent crimes will naturally age into older cohorts in the correctional facility Carson Sabol 2016 Effects of Aging Inmates are found to age faster physically and mentally than individuals in the general population Abner 2006 Williams et al 2012 and it is estimated that their physiological age is 1015 years older than their chronological age Abner 2006 Aday 1994 Grohs 2015 Hoffman Dickinson 2011 Williams et al 2012 Williams Lindquist Sudore Strupp Willmott Walter 2006 Williams Stern Mellow Safer Greifinger 2012 This trend can be attributed to years of poor personal healthcare including inaccessibility to healthcare services poor diet and substance abuse Abner 2006 Hoffman Dickinson 2011 Rikard Rosenberg 2007 Williams et al 2006 Prior to incarceration inmates typically are impoverished and exhibit highrisk illicit behaviors and often enter correctional institutions with chronic medical issues and untreated mental illnesses Hoffman Dickinson 2011 Williams et al 2012 Older adults typically experience reduced social support systems and for the aging inmate population this decrease of support is amplified The friends and family members of inmates struggle with the shame and social stigma of having their loved ones incarcerated finding it stressful to make continued visits to the institution and often ending visits altogether Travis Waul 2003 Many incarcerated parents do not receive See Answer

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